Brazil: Officer Points Gun at Danielle Zampollo As She Reports on Police Violence
The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the intimidation of Zampollo and calls for the officer involved to be identified and disciplined
Location: Brazil, São Paulo
Date: August 15, 2023
A military police officer aimed a rifle at journalist Danielle Zampollo as she investigated killings after a police operation in Baixada Santista. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by this aggressive behavior and calls on the military police to conduct a thorough investigation into the officer.
“When he started to point the rifle at me, and kept the gun pointed, I was surprised,” recalled journalist Danielle Zampollo. “I thought something was up. I look back and there is no one. Just me, in a narrow alley. Then I saw that it was me (he was aiming at). He stayed 17 seconds pointing the rifle at me, non-stop.”
On August 15, 2023, the reporter for the Profissão Repórter program on TV Globo, arrived at the Prainha community in Guarujá, São Paulo to investigate following 16 deaths during a police operation in the area.
Zampollo introduced herself to the officer who had arrived at the scene. “I am a journalist, may I ask what work you came here to do today?” she asked. He did not respond.
“In order not to waste time, I picked up my cell phone and started filming the agents' entry into the community,” explained Zampollo.
Once again, she identified herself as a journalist. The police officer ignored this and began aiming his rifle at her.
Zampollo, fearing for her safety, sought refuge in a nearby house, introducing herself to the resident and asking to stay at his door to escape the officer's line of sight.
The police officer did not have any identification on his uniform, which is mandatory, raising concerns about accountability and transparency within the police force.
Caco Barcelos, a renowned journalist and presenter, questioned the general commander of Military Police of São Paulo about the situation experienced by Zampollo. The commander claimed that the officer did not know that Zampollo was a journalist, despite her clear identification.
Military Police later released a statement stating they are investigating the allegations made by Zampollo.
The police operation in Guarujá, known as Operation Shield, was launched on August 4, 2023, by both military and civil police. Lasting eight days, the operation resulted in 16 deaths. It was initiated after a police officer was killed by criminals while on patrol in the community.
In response to the fatalities, the Public Defender's Office called for an immediate halt to the police operation and requested the temporary removal of military police officers involved in the deaths from active duty.
This incident sheds light on the ongoing issue of police violence in Brazil, particularly in marginalized communities. Journalists from the cities’ favelas are often regarded as some of the bravest war reporters worldwide, documenting human rights violations and providing a vital service to their communities. However, they face constant harassment from security forces, including prohibitions on recording police operations and attacks during protests.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by the aggressive and nonchalant behavior of the military police officer who continued to point his gun at Danielle Zampollo, repeatedly ignoring her when she told him she was a journalist. It is essential that journalists can carry out their work without fear of intimidation or harm.
Harassment from a police officer is particularly concerning. Police should ensure the safety of journalists reporting on matters of public interest, obstructing and intimidating press is unacceptable. We call for an immediate investigation from the Military Police of São Paulo urging them to hold the officer responsible to account.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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