Death of Brazilian black woman activist and councillor remains unsolved

Tuesday, April 17th 2018 - 08:26 UTC

Full article 50 comments

Franco was gunned down in central Rio on March 14 in what police say appears to have been a targeted assassination. So far, no arrests have been made.

Shadowy criminal gangs operating in Rio de Janeiro are the chief suspects in last month's murder of Marielle Franco, a prominent black rights activist and city councilor, a government minister said on Monday.

“The most likely hypothesis is that it was done by the Rio de Janeiro militias,” Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann told CBN radio. Without providing further details, Jungmann said investigators were “following one or two strong leads.”

Franco was gunned down in central Rio on March 14 in what police say appears to have been a targeted assassination. So far, no arrests have been made.

The 38-year-old was elected to Rio's municipal council in 2016 and made a name for herself as an outspoken activist against racism and police brutality in Rio's sprawling favelas, the poor neighborhoods where security forces battle heavily armed drug gangs.

Just days before her death, she had accused one police unit of acting as a death squad. The organized nature of the killing immediately prompted speculation that Franco was murdered by one of the militias.

The groups, composed largely of former and serving police officers, run protection rackets and other mafia-like activities in Rio, while fighting against drug gangs.

Categories: Politics, Brazil.

Tags: Brazil, Marielle Franco.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

:o))
REF: “Death of Brazilian black woman activist and councilor remains unsolved”:

This has NOTHING to do the Skin-Color, Race, Gender, Nationality, Status, Beliefs of an Individual, Creed, etc. A crime had been committed and it looks very much as if [it's quite likely that] the Law-Enforcement, Political Leaders, Investigators & the Culprits are on the SAME side.
Apr 18th, 2018 - 02:33 pm +2
:o))
WHY blame the crooks when the population itself is the MAIN culprit?
http://www.chargeonline.com.br/php/DODIA//paixao.jpg
Apr 21st, 2018 - 11:41 am +2
:o))
@TH:

The “partnership” between politicians & the Drug-Cartels will ensure that the case remains unsolved - FOREVER!
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT?
Apr 17th, 2018 - 02:40 pm +1

Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!