Shortly after midnight this Friday, April 20th, five vehicles full of civil police officers entered the Autorama, a meeting place for homosexuals in Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo, for an operation against drug trafficking. However, far from just fulfilling their duty, the police embarrassed and attacked those who were there having fun. “It was horrible,” said Rubens Carsoni, parliamentary advisor to state deputy Carlos Giannazi (PSOL-SP). “I was called by Autorama traders in the early hours of the morning. When I arrived, a police officer warned me that if I went in, I would only be able to leave after an hour and a half. Then, when I identified myself as a parliamentary advisor, they started treating me well.” According to those present, the police called people “fags” and said that “gays must be beaten”. “Five police officers got together to sing a song that said 'you have to give your ass, ass-giving fagots'”, said nurse Paulo Orlandi, who had gone to Autorama for a walk with a friend. “They said they were going to slap the queers in the face until they all died.” Bill da Pizza, one of the most famous traders in the area, was outraged by the violence of the operation. “We want the police here, but to prevent underage prostitution, drug trafficking and guarantee safety, not to attack those who just came to have fun. If there were preventive work, these mega-pamphleteer operations would not be necessary.” Investigation Rubens and Giannazi are preparing a report on what happened this Friday. “We will use all the instruments we have to investigate the case and ask for the punishment of those responsible”, said the deputy for the The Cape. “Our idea is to make a collective police report with as many people as possible. We will demand that an investigation be carried out and take the case to the governor. I will discuss this in the Alesp [Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo] gallery this afternoon.” Cássio Rodrigo, from the Coordination of Sexual Diversity Affairs, canceled all his commitments this Friday to dedicate himself to the case. “I would like everyone who was present to look for Cads.” O The Cape He sought out the Public Security Secretariat to comment on the incident, but received no response.
