Councilor Marielle Franco, murdered in Rio de Janeiro in 2018, was honored this Wednesday (15) in a solemn session in the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies. In the month that marks the five years of the crime, in which the driver Anderson Gomes was killed, the mastermind has not yet been discovered.
“Since 2018, in different parts of the world, among universities, squares, legislative houses and slums where Marielle has been honored in many ways, the question is asked daily: ‘who ordered the killing of Marielle and Anderson? And why?'”, questioned the Deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), author of the tribute request.
With the plenary filled with sunflowers in honor of the councilor, the Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, was moved when talking about Marielle, her sister. “It is still difficult for me to talk about her in the past tense, but she continues to be strength, plurality and affection for me. And she has always done politics in the best possible way, she always inspires me and she will be my leader forever. As long as we have strength and blood, we will fight to keep her memory and legacy”, said the minister.
Sunflowers adorn the plenary of the Chamber in homage to councilwoman Marielle Franco – Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil
Anielle also criticized the fact that the person who ordered the crime remains unpunished. “While it is not answered who ordered the killing of Marielle, we continue with this fragile democracy. And I really hope I don’t have to wait another five years to wait for an answer about the principals.”
Also present at the session, the Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Sílvio Almeida, related the elucidation of the crime to democracy. “There is no possibility for Brazil to overcome inequality, authoritarianism, advance as a true and democratic society and overcome racism, if we do not commit ourselves, as a society, to the elucidation of the murder of Marielle Franco”, stated Sílvio Almeida.
Historic
At the end of February, the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, ordered the opening of an inquiry at the Federal Police to investigate the murder of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes. According to the minister, the objective is to expand federal collaboration in the investigation of the case.
The crime completed five years on Tuesday (14). The police arrived at the alleged perpetrators of the crime, former military police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz, who are already defendants and are awaiting trial by popular jury, but the perpetrators and motivations have not yet been discovered.
Flávio Dino ruled out, at least for now, the federalization of the case and even said that this is a matter of honor for the Brazilian State.
