- Title: Young Filipinos perform spoken word poetry to commemorate drug war killings
- Date: 19th August 2017
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (AUGUST 19, 2017) (REUTERS) FILIPINO POET JAM PASCUAL WALKING TO MICROPHONE STAND VARIOUS OF FILIPINO COLLEGE STUDENTS SITTING AND LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FILIPINO POET, JAM PASCUAL, SAYING: "Once the week has claimed its quota of blood and it drains into the gutters, that's when the faithful feel the streets are clean enough for them to wear th
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2017 21:10
- Keywords: Filipino youths drug wars spoken word poetry families of drug war victims
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Human Interest / Brights / Odd News
- Reuters ID: LVA0016UTO7D3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Young Filipinos gathered in Manila on Saturday (August 19) to perform spoken word poetry commemorating those who have died in President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.
The event comes after Duterte's anti-narcotics crackdown saw its bloodiest week yet, with 80 suspected addicts, including a 17-year-old high school student, gunned down in police shootouts in a matter of four days.
Proceeds from the spoken word slam were donated to a support network for the families of drug war victims which encouraged participants to continue raising awareness about the killings.
College student Antonio Sison said spoken word poetry allows individuals to express their anger at Duterte and his war on drugs in a country where criticism of both are largely muted.
Since July 2016, the Philippines' drug war has killed thousands in vigilante killings and fatal police raids that critics say disregard due process and target only the poor. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None