Amid samba and spectacle, Carnival pays tribute to slain councilwoman
By Diane Jeantet and Mauricio Savarese
March 5, 2019 — 11.39am
Rio de Janeiro: Samba competition is getting political in Brazil, with one of Rio's top samba schools and other groups paying tribute to Marielle Franco, an activist for gays and Afro-Brazilian rights who was slain almost a year ago.
Mangueira, one of the oldest samba schools in Rio, included the former city councilwoman in a parade honoring Brazil's hidden heroes, those that history books often forget or choose not to mention.
Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, were shot to death in their car while driving in downtown Rio on March 14, 2018. The killings shocked Brazilians and set off a wave of national demonstrations, but police have never named suspects.
Franco's partner, Monica Benicio, was expected to take part in the samba school's parade early Tuesday, local time, at Rio's Sambadrome.
"Marielle was a woman, a fighter, from the favela, who overcame inequality, went to university, was elected councilwoman, fought for minorities, denounced and investigated public power," said Deivid Domenico, who co-wrote Mangueira's samba anthem for this year's Carnival.
More:
https://www.theage.com.au/world/south-america/amid-samba-and-spectacle-carnival-pays-tribute-to-slain-councilwoman-20190305-p511t3.html
Marielle Franco PRESENTE!