https://socialistaction.org/2018/03/15/socialist-city-council-member-fighter-against-police-violence-assassinated-in-rio-de-janeiro/
Socialist city council member & fighter against police violence
assassinated in Rio de Janeiro
/ 2 days ago
April 2018 Marielle protestingMarielle Franco ¡Presente! Socialist
Action condemns the March 14 assassination of Marielle Franco, a city
councilor in Rio de Janiero, and a militant of the Socialism and Liberty
Party (PSol) in Brazil. Anderson Pedro Gomes, the driver who accompanied
Franco, was also the victim of this drive-by killing. Marielle was a
frequent and vocal critic of police violence and the military occupation
of Rio de Janiero.
SA joins in solidarity with the PSOL in demanding a rigorous and
independent inquiry into this cowardly assassination.
*****
The PSol issued this statement: The Socialism and Liberty Party (PSol)
publicly expresses its regret at the murder of our Rio de Janeiro
councilwoman Marielle Franco, and of Anderson Pedro Gomes, the driver
who accompanied her.
We stand by the family, friends, advisors and party leaders of PSOL/RJ
in this moment of pain and indignation. Marielle’s performance as a
councilor and human rights activist made the party’s militants very
proud and will be honored in the continuity of her struggle.April 2018
Marielle portrait
We cannot rule out the hypothesis of a political crime, that is, an
execution. Marielle had just denounced the Military Police’s brutal and
truculent action in the Irajá region of the Acari community. In
addition, the characteristics of the crime, with a car coming alongside
Marielle’s vehicle, and someone firing many shots and fleeing,
strengthen that possibility. Therefore, we demand immediate and rigorous
investigation of this heinous crime. We will not be silenced!
Marielle, presente! Hoje e sempre!
— Socialism and Freedom Party, March 14, 2018
*****
Below, we reprint an article on the murder that appeared on the Left
Voice website:
On Wednesday night [March 14], Marielle Franco, a city council
representative for the Party of Socialism and Liberty, was assassinated
in Rio de Janeiro. Franco was on her way home after speaking at a
political meeting about Black youth when a someone pulled up next to her
car and opened fire, hitting her nine times before speeding off. Both
she and the driver of the car, Anderson Pedro Gomes, were killed. A
press officer in the back seat was injured and is currently receiving
medical care.
While Rio is well known for constant robberies, in this case, nothing
was taken from the victims. Many are calling Franco’s murder an
execution and are considering possible political motivation.
Franco, a Black woman, was born and raised in the favelas of Rio and was
elected to city council in 2016. She was on a commision to investigate
last month’s federal militarization of Rio de Janeiro, which lead to
checkpoints around the city and massive violence in the poorest
neighborhoods. Franco had been an outspoken critic of this military
intervention.
In the days preceding her assassination, Franco made a series of
statements against police violence. On Saturday, March 10, she posted on
Facebook denouncing the police violence in the favela Acari, where the
police had recently killed two youth and terrorized residents. One of
her last tweets read: “Another homicide of a young man that could be
credited to the police. Matheus Melo was leaving church when he was
killed. How many others will have to die for this war to end?”
Already, many in Rio de Janeiro have called for a massive mobilization
on Thursday against the genocide of Black people and for Marielle
Franco. Activists in New York City have organized a protest as well.
While the police say they will take this crime seriously, many believe
it was the police or the military who carried out this murder. In order
for Franco to have justice, there must be an independent investigation
of this crime. Rest in power, Marielle Franco.
Photos of Marielle Franco from http://www.psol50.org.br
Share this:
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
40Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)40
Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
March 15, 2018 in Latin America.
Related posts
Stop Gaël Quirante’s firing! Unite against repression at La Poste!
Defend the First Amendment and prisoners’ rights to read critical ideas
Educational conferences reflect growing interest in socialist ideas
Post navigation
← Connecticut activists assemble at Climate Justice Teach-in
Get Involved!
Donate to help support our work
Get email updates
Join Socialist Action
Newspaper Archives
Newspaper Archives Select Month March 2018 (10) February 2018 (14)
January 2018 (13) December 2017 (13) November 2017 (13) October 2017
(16) September 2017 (15) August 2017 (16) July 2017 (17) June 2017
(16) May 2017 (17) April 2017 (14) March 2017 (13) February 2017
(19) January 2017 (13) December 2016 (12) November 2016 (19) October
2016 (12) September 2016 (10) August 2016 (10) July 2016 (14) June
2016 (14) May 2016 (9) April 2016 (12) March 2016 (14) February
2016 (8) January 2016 (11) December 2015 (11) November 2015 (9)
October 2015 (8) September 2015 (10) August 2015 (7) July 2015 (13)
June 2015 (9) May 2015 (10) April 2015 (12) March 2015 (9) February
2015 (11) January 2015 (10) December 2014 (12) November 2014 (11)
October 2014 (9) September 2014 (6) August 2014 (10) July 2014 (11)
June 2014 (10) May 2014 (11) April 2014 (10) March 2014 (9) February
2014 (11) January 2014 (11) December 2013 (10) November 2013 (11)
October 2013 (17) September 2013 (13) August 2013 (10) July 2013
(11) June 2013 (15) May 2013 (14) April 2013 (14) March 2013 (12)
February 2013 (10) January 2013 (17) December 2012 (7) November 2012
(8) October 2012 (19) September 2012 (2) August 2012 (27) July 2012
(18) June 2012 (3) May 2012 (19) April 2012 (14) March 2012 (17)
February 2012 (19) January 2012 (17) December 2011 (3) November 2011
(33) October 2011 (14) September 2011 (13) August 2011 (34) July
2011 (24) June 2011 (19) May 2011 (19) April 2011 (15) March 2011
(15) February 2011 (15) January 2011 (15) December 2010 (17) November
2010 (1) October 2010 (6) September 2010 (3) August 2010 (8) July
2010 (7) June 2010 (2) May 2010 (9) April 2010 (3) March 2010 (8)
February 2010 (3) January 2010 (9) December 2009 (6) November 2009
(5) October 2009 (16) September 2009 (3) August 2009 (2) July 2009
(5) June 2009 (2) May 2009 (7) April 2009 (6) March 2009 (16)
February 2009 (9) January 2009 (10) December 2008 (11) November 2008
(8) October 2008 (16) September 2008 (14) August 2008 (18) July 2008
(12) June 2008 (3) May 2008 (2) April 2008 (3) March 2008 (14)
February 2008 (11) January 2008 (11) December 2007 (8) November 2007
(1) July 2007 (1) June 2007 (1) April 2007 (1) March 2007 (1)
February 2007 (3) December 2006 (11) November 2006 (11) October 2006
(13) September 2006 (15) August 2006 (11) July 2006 (18) June 2006
(7) May 2006 (14) April 2006 (6) March 2006 (14) February 2006 (5)
January 2006 (2) December 2005 (9) November 2005 (8) October 2005
(13) September 2005 (12) August 2005 (9) July 2005 (16) June 2005
(16) May 2005 (16) April 2005 (12) March 2005 (14) February 2005
(19) January 2005 (15) December 2004 (14) November 2002 (17) October
2002 (19) September 2002 (22) August 2002 (21) July 2002 (15) May
2002 (21) April 2002 (21) February 2002 (15) January 2002 (15)
December 2001 (17) October 2001 (24) September 2001 (18) July 2001
(19) June 2001 (18) October 2000 (17) September 2000 (21) August
2000 (19) July 2000 (16) June 2000 (26) May 2000 (21) April 2000
(22) March 2000 (28) February 2000 (18) January 2000 (20) December
1999 (20) November 1999 (26) October 1999 (25) September 1999 (18)
August 1999 (40) July 1999 (38) June 1999 (24) May 1999 (27) April
1999 (25) March 1999 (26) February 1999 (29) January 1999 (24) July
1998 (12)
Search
View socialistactionusa’s profile on Facebook
View SocialistActUS’s profile on Twitter
View SocialistActionCT’s profile on YouTube
Subscribe to Our Newspaper
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events
Category Cloud
Actions & Protest Africa Anti-War Arts & Culture Black Liberation Canada
Caribbean Civil Liberties Cuba East Asia Economy Education & Schools
Elections En Español Environment Europe Immigration Indigenous Rights
International Labor Latin America Latino Civil Liberties Marxist Theory
& History Middle East Police & FBI Prisons South Asia Trump / U.S.
Government Uncategorized Women's Liberation
View Calendar
Blog at WordPress.com.
Follow