By Diarlei Rodrigues The Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — Practitioners of different religious traditions marched down Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana Beach on Sunday to support religious freedom in Brazil, where cases of intolerance have doubled over the past six years.
Hundreds of men, women and children from more than a dozen faiths participated in the event, known as the March for the Defense of Religious Freedom. Many of the participants were practitioners of Afro-Brazilian religions that have recently faced attacks from members of Christian groups. Brazil’s recently appointed Minister for Human Rights Macaé Evaristo also joined the march, which was held for the 17th consecutive year.