Inspired by their murdered colleague, these black women are running for office in Brazil

Thais Ferreira

The 30-year-old entrepreneur is receiving massive support from young Afro-Brazilians who say they are inspired by her story: being raised in the poor suburbs of Rio de Janeiro with constant threats of racism and sexism.

RELATED STORIES

5 African women who deserve global celebration for fighting oppression way before the 1900s

The remarkable exploits of a 17-year-old princess fighting child marriage in one of Africa's last monarchies

America proves again that it does not care about women as Kavanaugh sails through

Deep quotes of Fannie Lou Hamer, U.S. civil rights activist who terrified President Johnson

The mother of two is competing to become a state congresswoman representing the Sunshine and Liberty Party. Just like Franco’s, Ferreira wants “pathways to dignified work, greater police accountability, and functioning, high-quality public healthcare, among other things.”

“Social movements and entrepreneurship are crucial,” said Ferreira, “but the added power of being able to legislate this agenda is too important to ignore.”