Activists, human rights defenders, and politicians remain appalled at the news of Marielle Franco’s murder last year in Rio de Janeiro. She was one of the first black, LGBTI, and disadvantaged women to take up a political position of relevance in Brazil when she was elected councillor of Rio. The 14th of March 2018 will remain an infamous day in the Brazilian callendar for decades to come.
Marielle was shot returning from a cultural event with her driver, and both died in the act. The crime shook the world, and one year later it has yet to be resolved. With the slow progress of the investigation one thing has become clear: Marielle’s murder was calculated, planned, and carried out with professional precision.
The evidence suggests that the bullets used are those that are used within the police force, and that this crime of a most likely political nature could imply the involvement of the Brazilian state.
