Brazil: The Legacy of Marielle Franco

On Mar. 14, 2018, four shots killed Brazilian councilor, Marielle Franco. Two years later, tens of thousands continue to keep her legacy and memory alive, aiding in human rights activism and strengthening political representation in Brazil. 

A tribute to Marielle Franco at the site she was killed. (Leo Correa | AP Photo)

Within Brazilian politics, diversity is minimal and efforts to enhance the voices of marginalized groups are often blocked by criminal organizations. Black and mixed-race people are around 55% of Brazil’s population, yet only 17.8% of its Congress. Just 13 out of the 513 representatives are Afro-Brazilian women. The underrepresentation is clear from these numbers. Black Brazilians tend to live and earn less than white Brazilians. They overwhelmingly make up the majority of the unemployed, coming in at 64%. Marielle Franco wanted to be a force for change, a change she knew started and ended in the political framework.

Born into a family of migrants in one of the poorest areas of Brazil, favela Mare, Franco had firsthand experience of inequality and wealth disparity. Infrastructure and transportation services are both lacking. It was here where she gained the desire for change. Abusive policing is common in the neighborhood and military raids are often witnessed by children. In 2019, children from Mare wrote letters to the judiciary detailing the danger the raids meant for their and their families' livelihood; they were calling for peace. For the 140,000 inhabitants, the fight to secure human rights is necessary for their own survival, and Franco’s own politics are a reflection of this. During university, she joined the Socialism and Liberal Party, where she participated in the Human Rights Commission. In 2016, she became the only Black woman in Rio de Janeiro’s 51-member council. 

Her death sparked protests in Paris and Berlin and a call to end systemic racism in Brazil. On Twitter, the hashtag #MariellePresente (Marielle is here) rallied supporters across social media and across the world. Hours earlier, she attended a discussion called ‘Young Black Women Moving Power Structures,’ an empowerment event. The day before, she spoke out on Twitter against the police violence in Rio de Janeiro. She said, “Another young 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?”.

Demonstrators hold up a Justice for Marielle sign (Carl De Souze | AFP)

While suspects and no organization have been reprimanded for the death of Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes, many believe it was the work of organized crime figures, seeking to put out a message to those wishing to defend the rights of marginalized Brazilians. Rio de Janeiro’s police force is amongst the deadliest in the world. Bolsonarno said during his campaign that “a policeman who doesn’t kill is not a policeman.” 

The morning after her death, thousands filled the streets, expressing their anger at the unlawful killing. Brazil’s prosecutor general, Raquel Dodge, said it was an attack on democracy. Her death raised voices instead of burying them. Black women’s political participation soared as a result. In 2019, more than one thousand Black women throughout Brazil volunteered to run for office, a 60% increase compared to the 2014 election cycle. This was dubbed by the media as the “Marielle effect.”

Franco’s chief of staff, Renata Souza, gained a seat in Rio’s state assembly, vowing to keep her friend’s memory alive. Souza said, “While they keep murdering our people, we have to do something. We can’t stand still. There is no other way.” 

International support for Franco and her agenda continues to appear. Posters reading Marielle Vive (Marielle lives) were observed in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Others found the same posters in Amsterdam and New York. In the Bronx, as it approached International Women’s Day, Fannie Lou Hamer Middle School chose Marielle Franco as their honouree. Shirley Phillips said, “Marielle ignited a new generation of young activists willing to protect her legacy.” Meanwhile, the L.A. Chapter of Coletivo Por Um Brasil Democratico gathered a group of activists, scholars and music artists together for a heartfelt tribute including the reading of one of her essays. Music artist Zoe D’orey penned her a letter: 

“Dear Marielle,

The reaction of the crowd as Marielle’s coffin goes by. (Dado Galdieri | Bloomberg)

I wish you were here. You can’t imagine how much happened after your assassination. It’s as if we were all asleep and we woke up and marched to the center of Rio de Janeiro with our kids, our friends, our neighbours. We were all there.

But not only there, we were all over Brazil, but not only in Brazil. In less than 42 hours following your death, there were 3.6 million tweets from users in 54 countries. 

We all know how improbable and unique your trajectory was. A black LGBT woman raised in one of Rio’s largest, poorest and most violent slums – the Mare complex.” 

Marielle Franco and her political beliefs were important to not just Brazil, but societies all over the world. It is clear that the causes she sought after resonated with thousands. This is proven as her legacy continues to thrive near and far from the nation. Although her death was intended to provoke fear, instead it created alliances and a need for justice. Posthumously, she brought people together and strengthened her agenda. It is imperative that her voice doesn’t waver and settle into the shadows. As Jurema Werneck, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil, said, “When a human rights defender is silenced, the rights of all people are threatened.” Without Franco, there would be more compliance with underrepresentation and the violation of human rights.