March for Marielle Franco, Anderson Gomes gathers thousands in Rio

An ecumenical march in memory of city councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes gathered thousands of people in downtown Rio on Tuesday evening (Mar. 20). The demonstrators convened outside the Candelária church and proceeded to the Cinelância district, where a tribute was paid.

Carrying banners and posters calling for justice and wearing T-shirts with Franco’s face on them, the marchers ed the councilor’s fight for black and poor people, as well as favela residents and the LGBT community. From atop a vehicle equipped with a sound system, leaders shouted slogans like “Marielle is here,” “the favela resists,” and “black lives matter.”

In her speech, Gomes’s wife Ágatha Reis mentioned the everyday violence that plagues people in Rio. “We’re here for the people who leave their homes everyday and are not sure if they’re coming back,” she said. Family of young people killed in massacres or during clashes with the police also had their voices heard. Many of these crimes remain unsolved.

During the rally, one of the signs identifying Rio Branco Avenue was covered with a sticker reading “Marielle Franco Street.”

Gomes and Franco were fatally shot on Wednesday night (Mar. 14).

Amnesty International

Amnesty International Brazil Executive Director Jurema Werneck took part in the rally and stressed the need for a thorough investigation into what happened. The killing of Franco and Gomes, she argues, has affected the image of the country overseas.

“Amnesty International has released a report saying that Brazil is an extremely dangerous place for human rights advocates. It’s one of the countries with the highest number of people who fight for rights, dignity, and justice are killed. The world is saying it’s high time the authorities took the necessary action,” she remarked.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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