Former congressman, brother guilty in murder of Brazilian politician

"She was a Black and poor woman who dared to stand up to the interests of White, wealthy male militiamen. Franco had dared to fight land-grabbing operations in areas under the influence of then-congressman Chiquinho Brazão and Rio state auditor Domingos Brazão, brothers who led militias there, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said from the bench."

"The assassination of Franco, a 38-year-old advocate for LGBTQ+ and racial equality who was considered a rising star in Brazilian politics, laid bare the connections between the governing elite and the organized criminal groups that wield power across broad swaths of Rio - an open wound that focused debate on violence and impunity in Latin America's largest democracy."

"Marielle is the concrete expression of that reality, but, unfortunately, she is not an isolated case. There are countless forms of political violence, particularly since 2018, said Anielle Franco, Marielle's sister and now minister of racial equality in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government."

Brazil's Supreme Court found former congressman Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos Brazão guilty of ordering the 2018 assassination of Marielle Franco, a prominent human rights activist and city council member. Two military police officers were convicted of assisting in planning and logistics, while a former Rio police chief was found guilty of obstructing the investigation. Franco, a 38-year-old advocate for LGBTQ+ and racial equality, was killed alongside her driver Anderson Gomes. The court determined Franco was targeted for opposing land-grabbing operations controlled by the brothers' militia groups. The conviction addresses widespread questions about the crime and highlights connections between political elites and organized crime in Rio de Janeiro, representing a significant moment in addressing violence and impunity in Brazil.

Read at The Washington Post