Protests Mark a Month of Rio Councilwoman’s Murder

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Hundreds gathered in several cities around Brazil and the world on Saturday to remember Rio de Janeiro councilwoman, Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, one month after they were ambushed and killed. Supporters of the lawmaker vow not to allow her death to be forgotten before the guilty party has been found.

“We need to show that we are turning our pain into strength, that we will not take a step back and that neither time nor fear will shut us up!” stated the plea on a website created to accompany the Franco investigations.

In Brazil, demonstrators stepped out early in the morning the capital, Brasilia, as well as in the states such as Rio de Janeiro, Piauí, Ceará, Paraíba, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. Supporters were also at hand in cities in Canada, Argentina, Italy, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Portugal and France.

Brazil’s Interim Defense Minister General Joaquim Silva and Luna said last week the investigation is moving ‘forward’, and public security minister, Raul Jungmann, stated Monday morning in a radio interview that Rio’s civil police is working with the hypothesis of an action by militiamen for the Franco and Gomes executions.

Franco’s sister, Anielle Franco, was pleased with the outturn on Saturday stating the demonstrations taking place in Brazil and abroad prove recognition of her sister’s work in women’s rights, LGBT movement, and favela communities.

“We wait for justice and we expect more than who did, but who did. I wanted to know a lot, because the person designed the crime very well. Who was the mastermind of this crime and why?” she asked according to government news agency, Agencia Brasil.