By Britni Danielle, essence.com
Black Brazilians have lost one of their biggest champions as beloved activist and politician, Marielle Franco, was assassinated Wednesday night after speaking at a Black women’s empowerment event.
A self-described “child from the favela da Maré,” one of Rio’s most impoverished areas, 38-year-old Franco received over 46,000 votes—an impressive feat for a Black woman running for office—to become a councilwoman in 2016 as a member of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL). She also served as the President of the House Committee on Women, where she worked to end violence against women and was a vocal opponent of police brutality against Black Brazilians.
