Sister of slain Brazilian councilwoman calls for justice
Peter Prengaman and Sergio Ramalho, Associated Press
Updated 2:04 pm CST, Monday, January 14, 2019
Photo: Leo Correa, AP
IMAGE 3 OF 7
The sister of slain councilwoman Marielle Franco, Anielle, left, speaks next to her mother Marinete Silva during an Amnesty International press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. Anielle expressed concern about the conservative new governor’s commitment to solving the case of her sister's slaying 10 months ago.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The sister of slain Brazilian councilwoman Marielle Franco on Monday expressed concern about the conservative new governor's commitment to solving the case.
Ten months to the day since the slaying of Franco and her driver, sister Anielle Franco said Gov. Wilson Witzel's recent actions as a candidate were "worrisome." During last year's campaign, Witzel participated in a rally where two other candidates showed off a street sign honoring Franco that they had broken.
"Of course, we are worried about this administration," said Anielle Franco, sitting by mother Marinete Silva during an Amnesty International press conference. "Our current governor took part in that act of vandalism."
. . .
Franco, who was black and a lesbian, crusaded for black and gay causes. Hailing from Mare, one of Rio de Janeiro's roughest neighborhoods, Franco also frequently criticized police violence. The city's police force is one of the most lethal in the world.
Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, were gunned down in their car in Rio on March 14 after Franco spoke at a meeting on empowering black women.
For many in Brazil, one of the world's most unequal countries, Franco was a symbol of hope, in large part because such prominence for a black woman from a poor neighborhood was rare. Her slaying led to days of massive protests in Brazil and demonstrations in several other countries.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Sister-of-slain-Brazilian-councilwoman-calls-for-13532394.php#photo-16770044
Protest of the assassination of Marielle Franco.
Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead
Marielle Franco, known for criticism of police tactics, was killed in apparent assassination
Dom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
@domphillips
Thu 15 Mar 2018 16.51 EDT
Protests were held across Brazil after a popular Rio city councillor and her driver were shot dead by two men in what appears to have been a targeted assassination.
Marielle Franco, 38, was a groundbreaking politician who had become a voice for disadvantaged people in the teeming favelas that are home to almost one-quarter of Rio de Janeiro’s population, where grinding poverty, police brutality and shootouts with drug gangs are routine.
Richard Nunes, Rio’s head of public security, said there would be a “full investigation” into the deaths, which came despite the military taking charge of policing in the city last month after a surge in violence.
Two police officials told Associated Press that two men in a car fired nine shots into the vehicle carrying Franco and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes on Wednesday night. A press officer in the back seat was injured, but survived, the officials said. Both officials said it appeared Franco was targeted.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/15/marielle-franco-shot-dead-targeted-killing-rio
