Meeks, Kamlager-Dove, Castro Joint Statement on Sixth Anniversary of Assassination of Marielle Franco

March 14, 2024

Washington, DC — Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Ranking Member Joaquin Castro (TX-20), released the following statement commemorating the sixth anniversary of the assassination of Brazilian anti-racism and LGBTQ+ advocate Marielle Franco: 

“Today marks the sixth anniversary of the assassination of Marielle Franco, a Rio de Janeiro councilwoman. Franco was a gay Afro-Brazilian woman and a renowned advocate for the rights of marginalized and impoverished communities. She used her voice to fight against police violence and racial discrimination not only in Brazil but across the Western Hemisphere and the larger African diaspora. Six years later, her murder remains unsolved, and the perpetrators have yet to be brought to justice.

“Franco’s assassination represents the pervasive racial inequality in Brazil and the continued marginalization, violence, and persecution experienced by Black communities in our hemisphere. As members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, we are committed to promoting the political, economic, and social inclusion of African descendant and indigenous populations across the region. Together we continue to honor our bilateral agreement and the comprehensive implementation of The U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality."
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Permalink: https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2024/3/meeks-kamlager-dove-castro-joint-statement-on-sixth-anniversary-of-assassination-of-marielle-franco