Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and cities across Brazil to denounce a surge in femicides and gender-based violence, following a string of brutal, high-profile attacks. Demonstrators carried black crosses, placards reading “Stop killing us”, and messages condemning misogyny as they demanded stronger laws and prevention protocols. Many marched in honor of recent victims, including Alline de Souza Pedrotti’s sister, murdered by a colleague who refused to accept female leadership.
The protests also highlighted the rape and killing of English teacher Catarina Kasten in Florianópolis, cases activists say reflect both rising levels of violence and increasing cruelty. Despite a 2015 law recognizing femicide, Brazil recorded 1,492 cases last year, the highest on record. Experts warn that women’s growing visibility in public life is provoking backlash, further fueled by years of dismantled gender-equality policies under former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Compiled From: “Stop killing us: huge crowds rally in Brazil, decrying rise in femicide,” AlJazeera, Dec. 8, 2025.