Photographer is detained by the Military Police of Porto Alegre while covering a protest in front of the governor’s house

Photographer Antônio Carlos Argemi, from Centro dos Professores do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (CPERS) newspaper, from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, was detained by military policemen while he was taking pictures of a popular protest in front of the house of governor Yeda Crusius (PSDB Party) on July 16.

According to the photographer, the protest was calm, and despite of the presence of the Military Police, the Special Operations Battalion was also requested to come to the place. The policemen were using their riot shields to keep the demonstrators away from the sidewalk.

As Argemi was trying to cross the police barricade and to take pictures from the event, he heard a policeman saying: “You are not part of the official press so you must not take pictures here”. After that the photographer was detained and driven to the 14th Police Station of Porto Alegre. 

The Press Association of Rio Grande do Sul and the Press Union of Rio Grande do Sul released a note criticizing the Military Police operation regarding the repression of the press work during the protest.

When inquired by Abraji, the Military Police Press Office of Rio Grande do Sul affirmed: “Capitan João Carlos Trindade Lopes is no longer talking about this matter and he has already apologized”. The Press Office could not inform if the policemen involved were identified or sent to any disciplinary system.

Regarding the apologies, the photographer said: “It is a big lie. He has never apologized to me”.