Brazil's Supreme Court has convicted two influential politician brothers, João Francisco Inácio Brazão and Domingos Inácio Brazão, for ordering the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman Marielle Franco. The brothers received sentences for orchestrating the assassination of Franco, a gay Black woman who had emerged as a rising political star advocating for human rights and social justice. The landmark conviction comes nearly six years after Franco's brutal killing shocked Brazil and the international community.
Franco was gunned down alongside her driver Anderson Gomes on March 14, 2018, while traveling through central Rio de Janeiro after attending a political event. Gunmen fired at least 13 shots into their vehicle in what investigators determined was a carefully planned execution. Franco, 38, had been returning from a forum titled "Young Black Women Moving Power Structures" when the attack occurred. The brazen shooting in one of Rio's busiest areas demonstrated the boldness of those behind the assassination.
The Brazão brothers, known as Chiquinho and Domingos, wielded significant political influence in Rio state politics for decades. Prosecutors argued they ordered Franco's assassination because of her investigations into illegal land grabbing schemes and militia activities in Rio's western zones. Franco had been particularly vocal about corruption involving public land deals and the influence of paramilitary groups in local politics. Her work directly threatened the brothers' business interests and political networks.
Franco's murder became a powerful symbol of the dangers facing activists and politicians who challenge Brazil's entrenched power structures. She had served on Rio's city council since 2016, focusing on women's rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and police accountability in favelas. Her background as a Black woman from the Maré favela complex made her a unique voice in Brazilian politics. Franco's activism and growing national profile had made her both celebrated and targeted.
The assassination occurred during a particularly volatile period in Brazilian politics, as the country faced rising political tensions ahead of the 2018 presidential election. Franco's killing was part of a broader pattern of violence against activists, journalists, and political figures who challenged powerful interests. International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, closely monitored the case as a test of Brazil's judicial system. The slow pace of the investigation initially raised concerns about impunity for political violence.
The Supreme Court's decision represents a significant victory for Franco's family, particularly her mother Marinete Silva and sister Anielle Franco, who have fought tirelessly for accountability. Anielle Franco later became Brazil's minister of racial equality under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government. The convictions may signal a turning point in Brazil's efforts to combat political violence and protect democratic voices. However, challenges remain in addressing the broader culture of impunity that has long plagued Brazilian politics, particularly regarding violence against Black women and LGBTQ+ activists.