Rio Hosts Show in Honor of Marielle Franco’s Memory

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Thursday, April 26th, Circo Voador, in Lapa, hosts the show “Marielle Gigante” (Giant Marielle), a homage to the Carioca councilwoman who was brutally murdered on March 14, 2018. Several artists from the Carioca music scene will gather on stage in solidarity with Franco’s memory, playing funk, rap and hip hop to the audiences from 7PM.

The event aims to remember Marielle Franco‘s political trajectory and the causes she fought for: social justice and human right for Rio’s social minorities, like LGBT groups, black people, poor people, and women.

Additionally, “Marielle Gigante” hopes to attract audiences who support the cause and strengthen the fight.

Ahead of the initiative are four political-cultural movements. One of them is Coletivo Fala Akari, composed of activists from the Acari community, the favela where assassinations were committed by police and publicly denounced by Franco.

Also running the event is Casa das Pretas, which hosted the talk “Jovens Negras Movendo Estruturas” (Young black women for change), the last event attended by Franco before her death; Coletivo Maré Vive, a communitarian media channel from Maré, favela where the politician was born; and Centro de Estudos e Ações Solidárias da Maré (Maré’s Solidarity Actions and Study Center), which assisted Maré’s students to enter Rio’s public universities.

The movements running the show are known for standing up for the rights of black women, LGBT groups, and favela residents. They shed light on social-political issues through culture, arts and debates, as well as supporting the relatives of the victims of State violence.

From 7PM to 2AM, various artists will go up on Circo Voador’s stage. Among the ones participating are the group Planet Hemp, performing a rap and rock show; Marcelo Yuka, musician and activist, one of the founders of band O Rappa; Apafunk, bringing authentic funk music to the audience; rapper Flora Matos; and also drama companies Buzina Teatral, Entre Lugares Maré and the poetry collective Poetas Favelados.

All the money raised by the tickets will be given to the four collectives ahead of the event. Tickets can be purchased online via Ingresso Rápido or at Circo Voador’s ticket office. Prices vary from R$30 to R$60.

Marielle Franco was assassinated on March 14, 2018 while returning home from the event “Jovens Negras Movendo Estruturas” (Young black women for change), in Casa das Pretas, Centro. After more than a month from her death, the murders of Franco and Anderson Gomes (her driver) remain unsolved.

What: “Marielle Gigante”
When: Thursday, April 26th – 7PM
Where: Circo Voador – Rua dos Arcos, s/n – Lapa
Entrance: R$30 – R$60