Brazilians are reacting with outrage to the murder of a prominent councilwoman and human rights activist in Rio de Janeiro, in a blow to President Michel Temer’s decision to deploy the military to tackle criminality in the postcard city.
Marielle Franco, a 38 year-old black politician from one of Rio’s poorest and most violent communities, was returning home from an event in the city center late Wednesday when a car pulled alongside hers and opened fire, local media reported. Franco’s driver was also killed, but an aide traveling with her survived.
