"Being a black woman is to resist and survive all the time.”- Marielle Franco

Ms. Franco was only 38 when assassinated (a year and a half after elected), but she left behind a legacy of powerful advocacy, for single mothers, for poor and working class people, for the LGBTQ communities, for African representation. She had just attended an event called Young Black Women Who Are Changing Power Structures. She was also bringing mass awareness (through her platform as city Councillor) regarding street harassment. She protested against militarization and the vast murders of poor and African youth by the police. She understood the connections between the state (police) and drug gangs populating the favelas, and brought attention to that as well.

The greatest threat is the reality of systemically oppressed people rising up and organizing. We must not forget women like Marielle Franco. We must always honor them.