Five years and four months of resistance, says Marielle's mother. The councilwoman would have turned 44 this Thursday

img src="https://pb-brasil247.storage.googleapis.com/pb-b247gcp/swp/jtjeq9/media/20230314110336_04af10d5e40b58ab57e5092f6ff3b6140850667563c4f31fa0547bf775d7b550.jpg" width="610" height="380" hspace="5" /

Even though she is not here physically, we want to celebrate her life, the day I gave birth to my daughter, which holds great symbolism, Marinete confides

br clear="all"

247 - The date of July 27 holds a special significance for Marielle Franco's family, as she would have turned 44 this Thursday (27). Since the tragic assassination of the councilwoman at the age of 38 on March 14, 2018, her loved ones have experienced a whirlwind of emotions with each passing birthday. However, this week, the mix of feelings has taken on new perspectives with the recent confession of Élcio de Queiroz, made public last Monday (24). He confirmed being the driver of the car used in the crime and pointed to Ronnie Lessa as the one who shot Marielle and driver Anderson Gomes.Queiroz's revelation also led to the arrest of another involved in the case, the former firefighter Maxwell Corrêa, known as "Suel." For the first time in five years, the news about the investigation seems to represent progress in the search for the masterminds behind the crime. Amidst this scenario of longing and surprise with the developments, Marielle's parents, Antônio Francisco da Silva Neto, a retired 71-year-old, and Marinete, a fervent Catholic and lawyer, seek solace in the memories of the vitality and joy that their daughter emanated, although they recognize the difficulty of this task.During an interview with O Globo, Antônio did not hide his surprise upon learning that the criminals' intention was to assassinate their daughter at the end of the year, as reported by Queiroz in his testimony. On the other hand, Marinete shudders at the thought of how distressing it would be to deal with the tragedy near Christmas. "I can't even imagine that. God forbid." Both avoid mentioning the names of the accused, which seems to be a strategy for emotional defense when the debate about the events heats up again.With the confirmation of the facts by the informants, the retiree recalls the eve of Marielle's murder when Marinete accompanied her on a Tuesday, visiting the City Council and going to several pharmacies with driver Anderson to take care of Luyara, the councilwoman's daughter, who had conjunctivitis. Amidst these memories, there is a realization of how close the suspects were on that fateful day, but the presence of the mother may have influenced the criminals' decision. "On that day, the guys were close, but, as the mother was with her, they evaluated that, or they didn't have the chance due to the location," says the father.The news of the arrest of another suspect deeply shook Antônio, who received a call from his daughter Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality, who was in Colombia. The emotional impact was intense, and he opened up about his feelings and the tightness in his heart. On Marielle's birthdays, the longing mixes with the memory of her party-loving personality, but now, with the new revelations, the family feels shaken when recalling the details of the crime. "I felt sick. It happened that she called me when I was alone. I cried a lot on the phone; I felt a tightness in my heart. I sat down... I thought, 'Is today my day?' On Marielle's birthday, memories usually come of how she loved to celebrate, but also a feeling of pain, even more so this week. After the guys detailed everything, how they did it, how they were going to do it... When we see that, it gets (he sighs, and his eyes well up)... shaken," Antônio recounts.Marinete, seeking strength in her religion, highlights that July 27 represents Marielle's birth, and despite not being physically present, they want to celebrate their daughter's life. "This date brings the aspect of Marielle's birth. Even though she's not here physically, we want to celebrate her life, the day I gave birth to my daughter, which has great symbolism. She was born, was a healthy child, and got involved in this struggle early on. We live in our faith. I can't imagine that her life stopped in 2018. On the contrary: Marielle is renewed, with her plurality, her trajectory, a woman of Catholic history."In this context, the family, devoted to Mary, will gather at the Nossa Senhora do Parto Church in the Center to celebrate Marielle's birthday. In the afternoon, in the Maré favela, the councilwoman's birthplace, the launch of the photobiography in her honor will take place. Father Gegê, a friend of the family, will conduct the mass, and the progress in the investigations gives renewed meaning to this moment.Emotionally moved, Antônio remembers his daughter's enchanting smile and finds solace in his memories. He mentions federal deputy Erika Hilton from São Paulo as someone with qualities similar to Marielle's. "If I could, I would give her many hugs. My daughter was so beautiful. Even now, I keep her like that. Her calling card was her smile. Her rhetoric was excellent too. Nowadays, I see something similar in Erika Hilton (federal deputy for Psol in São Paulo). Seeds sprouted from Marielle's work. That legacy is still here."During the mourning, which has lasted for over five years, Marinete also faced breast cancer. "At the time of cancer, I had three surgeries on one breast. If I stop with my pain, I won't do anything. Here at home, now, the remaining family is just me and Toninho. Five years and four months of resistance. I'm not the first mother to go through all of this. Many people can't handle it. I don't have time for therapy; things need to go on. Life finds a way."