Rio de Janeiro, October 31 (RHC)-- In Brazil, a trial is underway for two former military police officers accused of assassinating Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver in a drive-by shooting in March of 2018. 

Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz confessed to the murders in signed plea bargains; they still face prison sentences of up to 84 years each.  

Councilmember Marielle Franco was a vocal Black LGBTQ rights advocate and a human rights activist who challenged police brutality in one of the world’s most notorious police forces. 

Ahead of the trial, protesters rallied outside the courthouse to demand accountability for Franco’s murder and for victims of unsolved crimes in Brazil’s marginalized communities. 

Marielle Franco’s mother, Marinete da Silva, joined the protests and told the group at the rally: “Don’t normalize.  Don’t trivialize life, neither my daughter’s nor any of these children who were also taken.  I’m here with other mothers.  I’m here with other people who are going through the same pain, and we’re going to be together.”

[ SOURCE:  DEMOCRACY NOW ]