Ecuador

The Spanish state’s repression against Catalonia’s democratic rights gets worse every day. There are at this moment 10 leading politicians and activists in prison, without having been condemned of any crime. They are accused of violent rebellion, although they have never used violence. By mid April the two leaders of the main Catalanist organisations, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sánchez, will have spent 6 months in prison.

International statement issued on 9 April 2018.

On March 14th, one of Brazil’s most courageous social leaders was brutally assassinated on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Marielle Franco, a city councilwoman and human rights defender, was shot four times in the head by unknown assailants in a passing vehicle shortly after leaving a gathering of young Black activists. Her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, was also killed.

Marielle Franco, member of PSol, elected councillor in Rio de Janeiro with the fifth highest votes in 2016 was an outspoken fighter for justice and against police violence. Franco and her driver were shot dead on 14 March in a drive-by killing.

The PSol issued this statement.

We protest placing the FIFA 2018 fan zone in a University district.

The only official fan zone for the FIFA World Cup in Moscow is to be placed next to the Moscow State University. This placement will damage the University. We demand to move it away from the University district.