Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday convicted two politicians of ordering the 2018 assassination of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco, exposing deep links between lawmakers and organized crime.
The court unanimously convicted former federal lawmaker Chiquinho Brazao and his brother Domingos Brazao, a former state lawmaker, for orchestrating the killing of Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, in central Rio. Franco, a 38-year-old black lesbian activist from a favela, was known for her outspoken opposition to Rio’s militias. Her death sent shockwaves across Brazil and became a symbol of the struggle against corruption and violence.
The murders were carried out by two former military police officers, who received hefty jail sentences in 2024. The Supreme Court concluded that the Brazao brothers targeted Franco because she opposed plans to legalize land illegally seized by militias controlling large parts of Rio.
Presiding Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the brothers “didn’t just have contact with the militia. They were the militia,” emphasizing that Franco was murdered to deliver a “message” to Rio’s political class. Moraes added, “She was a black woman who dared to go against the interests of militia members, men, and white people.”
Rio’s militias, which emerged about four decades ago as self-defense groups by former police officers, evolved into powerful criminal networks controlling territory, extorting residents and seizing public land, often with high-level political support.
The case highlights systemic corruption and the challenges faced by activists in Brazil who confront organized crime and entrenched political interests. The convictions are seen as a historic step toward justice for Franco and a warning against the misuse of political power to protect criminal enterprises.
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