CARACAS, Venezuela — “The bullet holes are right outside my door — a reminder of where they murdered him, right outside his home,” says Aryelis, whose son was shot to death by police here in 2017.
Mothers, sisters and wives are telling the stories of the men who have lost their lives in Special Action Forces operations in the hillside neighborhood of La Vega. The police unit, known as the FAES for its acronym in Spanish, has for years terrorized the working-class barrios of the Venezuelan capital. It’s accused of criminalizing young men for where they live.
La Vega’s turn came in early 2021.
In getting to know women in La Vega, I hoped to show their resilience and their effort to heal. I asked what is left, what is salvaged, what life looks like after tragedy. In a region where violence is normalized, these images reflect the power of community.
This work was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center and will be continued with the support of the Getty Images Inclusion Grant.
CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 30, 2022.
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CARACAS, VENEZUELA - DECEMBER 11, 2021.
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CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 26, 2021.
