Marielle Franco
Marielle Franco was a Brazilian politician, sociologist, feminist and human rights activist. She was born on July 27, 1979, in Rio de Janeiro and grew up in the Maré favela. She worked as a preschool teacher and raised her daughter, Luyara, as a single mother.
She studied social sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and earned a master’s degree in public administration from Fluminense Federal University. Her research looked at police programs in Rio’s favelas.
In 2016 she ran for the Rio de Janeiro city council with the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) and won a seat in 2017. As a councilor, she fought for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and the rights of people living in favelas. She spoke out against police brutality and extrajudicial killings and helped monitor the federal intervention in Rio. She chaired the Women’s Defense Commission.
On March 14, 2018, Marielle Franco was shot and killed in Rio de Janeiro after a speech. Her driver, Anderson Gomes, was also killed, and her press secretary Fernanda Chaves was injured. It was seen as a targeted attack on her work and beliefs.
In the years after her death, suspects were arrested and eventually convicted for the murder. Her death sparked protests across Brazil and around the world, and she is remembered for her courage and her fight for human rights.
Her sister, Anielle Franco, was appointed Minister of Racial Equality in Brazil in 2022. A documentary about Marielle’s life and many tributes have kept her memory alive.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:45 (CET).