Rio on Lockdown

Details: Published on Friday, 12 August 2016 11:30; Written by editor

The militarization of the Olympics is an affront to open society values.

Right now, as the world’s best athletes compete for gold in Rio de Janeiro, spectators could be forgiven for thinking the city is mobilizing for war, not the Olympic Games.

Why else would a security force of 85,000 be patrolling the city with bombs, assault weapons, and tanks?

The militarization of Rio should concern anyone who cares about transparency, civil liberties, and the right to protest peacefully.

Learn how authorities in Brazil are testing the limits of acceptable security.