{"id":42315,"date":"2018-03-16T12:11:45","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T15:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=42315"},"modified":"2023-08-23T12:20:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T15:20:31","slug":"voicesfromsocialmedia-unite-for-marielle-franco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=42315","title":{"rendered":"Favela #VoicesFromSocialMedia Unite for Marielle Franco"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Por<\/strong>tugu\u00eas<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This article is part of RioOnWatch\u2019s\u00a0#VoicesFromSocialMedia<\/a>\u00a0series which compiles perspectives posted on social media by favela residents and activists about events and societal themes that arise. It is the second in our special series on social media reactions to the federal military intervention in Rio de Janeiro.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yesterday evening, March 15, cries for justice and police reform<\/a> echoed throughout downtown Rio de Janeiro\u2019s State Legislative Assembly building as Rio mourned the deaths<\/a> of City Council Member Marielle Franco<\/a>\u00a0and driver Anderson Pedro Gomes<\/a>, assassinated fewer than 24 hours earlier. Helicopters buzzed overhead and Shock Troop battalions stood by as thousands of protesters gathered from throughout the city, chanting: \u201cIt isn\u2019t over, it must end, I want the end of the Military Police,\u201d and \u201cfor Marielle, I say no, I say no to [military] intervention<\/a>.\u201d Dozens of protests were simultaneously taking place\u00a0across Brazil<\/a>, with protests also being planned in New York<\/a>, London<\/a> and around the world.<\/p>\n

At around 6:30pm, the massive crowd began to march north to the historic Candel\u00e1ria church, embracing, crying, yelling. \u201cMarielle, presente!\u201d they proclaimed: Marielle is with us.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Franco\u2019s death united people from across Rio in solidarity, but it was the city\u2019s favelas that grieved most. Born and raised in the Complexo da Mar\u00e9 favelas<\/a>, the 38-year-old sociologist and teacher was the City Council\u2019s only black woman<\/a>. For many, she was a champion for the city\u2019s most vulnerable<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In February, the City Council named Franco leader of a special commission to monitor the federal government\u2019s military intervention. Prior to her nomination she had been using her position to speak out against police violence<\/a>, condemning abuse in Rio\u2019s favelas. Concerned such abuse would worsen amid President Michel Temer<\/a>‘s declaration of military intervention in Rio<\/a>, Franco raised her voice further.<\/p>\n

In one of her final tweets<\/a>, Franco denounced the recent killing of Matheus Melo, a 23-year-old from the Manguinhos<\/a> favela in the North Zone<\/a>, shot by police on his way home from church on March 13. \u201cAnother youth homicide that could be credited to the Military Police. Matheus Melo was leaving church. How many others will have to die for this war to end?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

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Mais um homic\u00eddio de um jovem que pode estar entrando para a conta da PM. Matheus Melo estava saindo da igreja. Quantos mais v\u00e3o precisar morrer para que essa guerra acabe?<\/p>\n

— Marielle Franco (@mariellefranco) March 13, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n