The Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, was movedthis Monday (24), in Brasília, when remembering the struggle of her sister, councilwoman Marielle, at an event with activists from the black movementon the eve of the Black Women’s March.
Marielle was murdered in Rio de Janeiro, in March 2018.
“10 years ago, I remember my mother and my sister, commenting, getting ready [para a marcha]. Today I wonder where she was. He would certainly be marching with us today”, said the minister in an interview with Brazil Agency.
The minister was in conversation, at an event with the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, and deputies Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ) and Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP) at an event organized by the “Black Women Decide” Movement.
Minister Anielle Franco argued that the march, which will take place this Tuesday (25), has become a synonym of collective struggle for black women across the country. She added that the presence of foreign representations has even been confirmed.
“Our expectation is that, in fact, people will listen to us, listen to our love, our appeal and our struggle”, he said.
Anielle Franco highlighted that the march is attended by women who face a daily struggle against all forms of oppression. The act also means, as you understand, honoring the memory of women who lost their lives during the struggle.
“Be Marielle, be mother Bernadette [liderança quilombola assassinada em agosto de 2023]there are so many other leaders that we had”.
Anielle assessed, also for the report, that public safety demands are also among the priorities of the women taking part in the march.
She recalled the 122 deaths that occurred in Rio de Janeiro during Operation Containment. “We are here with mothers from Complexo do Alemão and Penha. And this pain… only those who pass by understand.”
In addition to public safety, Anielle highlighted that the themes of education, health, culture and leisure must be part of the demands of protesters at the event.
Brasília (DF), 11/24/2025 – Minister Marina Silva participates in an event on the eve of the Black Women’s March. Photo: Valter Campanato/Agência Brasil
Also at the event, minister Marina Silva stated that another topic that should be reflected upon during the march is “environmental racism”.
This concept is understood as how more vulnerable groups, such as black and indigenous communities, suffer disproportionately from the impact of climate change.
“They are the ones who pay the worst consequences for being in the worst spaces to live and having the worst infrastructure conditions”, said the minister, to Agência Brasil.
In any case, Marina Silva says that it is necessary to expect demands about the fight against all forms of discrimination and respect for social rights that have become law, but have not come to fruition.
Right to work
She also added that black women should have the right to undertake.
“Opportunities for entrepreneurship often do not come to them in the same intensity and with the same quality of support”, he lamented. Still in the professional field, Marina criticized that black women are prevented from occupying leadership spaces, both in the public and private environments.
“Solo moms like me”
In fact, workers like Pamella de Jesus, 32, from São Paulo, who traveled to Brasília for the march, feel oppression in the professional field. She is one of 8 thousand women who work as a telemarketing operator in São Paulo, and also works as a trade unionist
“At least 90% of the workers are black. Many are solo mothers like me”, she says.
She, who works six days and rests one, states that black women are even more vulnerable to moral and sexual harassment at work.
“We work long hours and receive unattainable goals.”
Pamella wakes up every day at 5am, gets her four-year-old daughter ready for daycare, and heads to work. She guarantees that the daily struggle is tough, but it is necessary to demand, in moments like the black women’s march.
One of the recent achievements for the category, as exemplified, was the extension of maternity leave to 180 days. “It makes a lot of difference”, he guarantees.
