AMERICA/BRAZIL - Tension between Haitians and locals, Haitian citizen mortally wounded

Sao Paolo (Agenzia Fides) – Tension rises in Sao Paolo (Brazil) between the local people and Haitian migrants after one of a group of 6 Haitians attacked a few days ago died yesterday in hospital.
According to the local press the driver or a passenger from a passing automobile shouted " Haitians are taking Brazilian jobs ". Other sources speak of a possible action of retaliation: Haitians in central Sao Paolo about to commit a robbery had been stopped.
In an interview with Portal Brasil, Fr Paolo Parise in charge of a Peace Mission (in Sao Paolo), says that none of the Haitian’s attacked heard a cry from the car from which shots were fired at the group. The priest said the incident was a hatred crime. "Personally I believe it was an act of xenophobia", he said.
The incident took place at the beginning of August close to the parish of Our Lady of Peace where there is a Centre of Assistance for foreigners.
Following the earthquake in 2010, many Haitians sought shelter in Brazil, among them a group which found work. The estimated number of Haitian migrants according to the Brazilian authorities in the period August 2010 to August 2014 was between 35,000 and 40,000. Many migrants coming from Haiti live in Brazil in conditions of poverty.
(CE) (Agenzia Fides, 13/08/2015)