Marielle Franco, councillor and police critic, shot dead in targeted killing in Rio https://t.co/e8dcYPQKdB — The Guardian (@guardian) March 15, 2018

– Marielle Franco, newly-elected member of the Rio di Janero city council as part of the Socialist and Liberty Party in Brazil (PSOL), was murdered along in a drive by shooting along with her driver Anderson Pedro Gomes on the night of Wednesday, March 14th.

– Officers have said that it was two men who were responsible for the shooting. They fired nine shots into the vehicle that carried Franco and her driver, along with a press officer in the backseat who survived. The press officer said it appeared the shots were targeted at Marielle.

– Marielle was a major advocate for poor people, LGBT rights, black rights, and women's rights. Being her first term in office starting 2016 as an openly gay Afro-brazillian woman was risky enough, but Marielle was also very condemning of police violence and brutality and recently accused officers of being too aggressive in their raids and searches. 46,500 people voted for Marielle to reflect their interests on the city council.

– Many outlets are omitting Marielle's positions and sexuality. She loved her partner Monica Teresa Benicio and her 19 year old daughter, her parents, and her sister. On March 18th, after nearly a week of anger from citizens, Brazil's most powerful media outlet, Rede Globo, held a 45 minute segment on Marielle's murder. It featured interviews from Marielle's partner and family, and Anderson's widow, but in the only segement about her political positions described her passion for "human rights", that humans are free and equal, and should be given the same rights as everyone else, watering down her radical progressive positions into something unobjectionable and cliché.

– In an interview with Democracy Now, Former Brazilian President Lula said [translated]: "Mainly, we have two problems in Brazil. The first is that her assassination is unacceptable. The only thing [Marielle] did was to work against the assassinations of black persons in the peripheral areas in the defense of human rights and the defense of lives of people. It's clear that her death was a pre-meditated killing. Now I don't know if it was a militia or a police, but what is clear is that it is unacceptable, and that all of us Brazillians could come together in a single voice and shout out loud to demand punishment of those responsible for that killing. And President Temer should learn a lesson with this killing, which is that the problem of violence in the peripheral areas of our Brazil is not going to be resolved by turning to the armed forces. It is necessary that the state have a presence in the peripheral areas of the state of Brazil."

– Her murder has prompted mass mourning and protest across Brazil.

Many found great hope in Marielle's advocacy for issues important to locals who don't have a voice in their government. Some people are taking the protests for Marielle as an insult against local police officials, which, well. The passion for Marielle's life and political work is growing beyond state and media attempts to control it. Because of this...

– Celebrities across the world have expressed their condolences over Marielle's murder. Check below for reactions and personal photos of Marielle with her partner Monica.

I’m still in shock - numb - horrified by the murder of #MarielleFranco https://t.co/vLuUz4R8Ev — Thandie Newton (@thandienewton) March 19, 2018

Saddens me to hear that #Mariellefranco who dedicated her life to fighting against racism, prejudice & police violence in Rio de Janeiro, was assassinated last night. COME ON BRAZIL STAND UP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/A7OHwOU77y — Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) March 15, 2018

1/ I can’t stop thinking about #MarielleFranco. What a brave and brilliant human being.



“Marielle Franco, councillor and police critic, shot dead in targeted killing in Rio”: https://t.co/2APzMBL5G5 — Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) March 15, 2018

lembra que mencionei que veículos diversos de com falaram de marielle? aqui: RT @okayplayer: In Brazil, tens of thousands gathered to demand justice for #MarielleFranco, one of the country’s most promising and beloved political figures. (via @okayafrica ) https://t.co/E9qac14PyQ — Maria Rita (@MROFICIAL) March 19, 2018

Retaliation is REAL. Specifically against women. God bless Marielle Franco https://t.co/7yj0APElXR — terrycrews (@terrycrews) March 16, 2018

The assassination of human rights activist #MarielleFranco was a huge loss for Brazil — and the world @ShaunKing https://t.co/POeQR2bsgG pic.twitter.com/Ocrw1WwYoB — RuPaul (@RuPaul) March 19, 2018

The assassination of human rights activist Marielle Franco was a huge loss for Brazil — and the world. https://t.co/qumu345jVw pic.twitter.com/XgHIL3igDF — The Intercept (@theintercept) March 17, 2018

Marielle Franco, who spent years speaking out against police violence and fighting for LGBT rights, gave this powerful speech just hours before she was killed in a suspected assassination. pic.twitter.com/GgPAPQisjQ — BuzzFeed LGBT (@BuzzFeedLGBT) March 16, 2018

Marielle Franco was openly gay, erasing her partner is disrespectful | AFROPUNK https://t.co/xxtxSCeLsW — LeslieMac (@LeslieMac) March 20, 2018

The violent death of Rio politician Marielle Franco has prompted mass mourning and protests in Brazil https://t.co/pD1voKqogB pic.twitter.com/ixehNGB7cV — TIME (@TIME) March 16, 2018

"Brazil, Latin America's most populous country, is one that has long hidden its apartheid behind the myth of a racial democracy." https://t.co/8Favf8g3I7 — OkayAfrica (@okayafrica) March 19, 2018

Here's @DavidMirandaRio talking to Al Jazeera about the life, work and assassination - and the unique importance - of his close friend and colleague Marielle Franco. It's short but powerful https://t.co/R0KqeaB6Ed — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 16, 2018

🔊 Our exclusive interview with Brazil’s former president Lula da Silva (@LulapeloBrasil), the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election, on his possible imprisonment, the assassination of Marielle Franco, U.S. interference in Latin America & more. https://t.co/kErPKnL4Oy — Democracy Now! (@democracynow) March 19, 2018

Former Brazilian President Lula: It’s Clear Marielle Franco’s Assassination Was Premeditated @democracynow #FSTVDN pic.twitter.com/ll2Al325D2 — Free Speech TV (@freespeechtv) March 20, 2018

Every now and then you meet someone in politics that makes you believe that the whole thing is worth it, despite all the dirt and decay and corruption that drowns it, that it can actually improve things for people. @mariellefranco was one of those people - for so many. #RIP pic.twitter.com/JJtXnkgrlJ — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 15, 2018

Tensions frighteningly high in Rio right now. Ex: last night, at classic Copacabana samba bar Bip Bip, an off-duty highway patrolman threatened to shoot crowd after owner offered homage to Marielle Franco. Police arrived & took away owner, shocking crowd. https://t.co/l7xeLH4Ff5 — Shannon Sims (@shannongsims) March 19, 2018

“What about the 200 dead police?” the patrolman had shouted in response to Marielle Franco homage. Appears increasingly that outrage at her death is being interpreted by many as an insult to police. — Shannon Sims (@shannongsims) March 19, 2018

I used to live across the street from Bip Bip & everyone knows me there. Alfredinho, the 74-year-old owner, is a known leftist. Every night he gives a rant about politics - it’s a tradition. People are often offended. But there’s a problem when that becomes an armed threat. — Shannon Sims (@shannongsims) March 19, 2018

Brazilian demonstrators march through the streets of Rio to protest murder of councilwoman and human rights activist Marielle Franco. https://t.co/U5qT87uzio pic.twitter.com/4QltbqbNRh — ABC News (@ABC) March 19, 2018

It was 98ºF, humid & sunny today in Rio de Janeiro. Nonetheless, tens of thousands came out to protest the brutal execution of city councilwoman Marielle Franco. The murderers want to scare the Marielles of the world, but Marielle brought reinforcements. #MariellePresente https://t.co/DsALNB5ta6 — Andrew Fishman (@AndrewDFish) March 16, 2018



