Marielle Franco was born 27 July 1979, she was a Bazilian politician, feminist and human rights activists. The single parent of an 18 years old daughter was studying at Fluminense Federal University, studying master’sdegree in Public Administration. After she completed her master’s degree she worked at Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro for the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) as a City Councillor. PSOL was formed by left-wing activists who left the Workers Party after opposing pension reform by then President Lula, and included such well know activists like Michel Lowy. She as a councillor from January 2017 until she was assasinated on 14 March 2018.
Franco who was part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community started to work in human rights activism after her friend died on a stray bullet in 2000. In 2002, she entered the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro on a scholarship and continued working and raising her daughter as she earned a degree in social sciences. From 2007 she worked for state representative Marcel Freixo as a consultant and she coordinated she state legislature’s Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and Citizenship. She also worked for civil society organizations, including the Brazil Foundation and the Maré Center for Solidarity Studies and Action (CEASM). CEASM was formed by activists from the township of Mare who mainly came from university. The students decided that it was important for them to build their community and social movements.
In 2016, Franco ran for a seat on the Rio de Janeiro city council in the municipal elections. As a black woman and single mother from the favelas, Franco positioned herself as a representative and defender of poor black women and people from the favelas. With over 46,500 votes, Franco was one of 51 people elected, receiving the fifth highest vote total out of more than 1,500 candidates.
On 14 March 2018, while in a car after delivering a speech, Franco and her driver were shot multiple times and killed by assailants in another vehicle. Franco had been an outspoken critic of police brutality and extrajudicial.
By Courtesy of Wikipedia
