Rio de Janeiro to Host 12th Black Women’s March Against Racism on July 26

The 12th edition of the Black Women’s March will take place on July 26 along Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The rally, organized by the State Black Women’s Forum and coordinated by activist Clatia Vieira, adopts the theme “In defence of democracy, against racism, for reparations and good living.”

A preparatory “Pirulitos” workshop is scheduled for July 19 at the Institute of Black Culture Studies (IPCN), where participants will create the posters to be carried during the march and share a collaborative barbecue. The event brings together Black women from numerous municipalities across the state, including São Francisco de Itabapoana, Cantagalo, Niterói and the Baixada Fluminense region. Organizers estimate that 10,000‑15,000 people will attend.

The march originated in 2011 when Black women’s groups across Brazil began planning a national demonstration, culminating in a 2015 gathering of about 100,000 in Brasília. That same year Rio held its first state‑level march, and the movement has continued annually, adapting to virtual formats during the COVID‑19 pandemic. This year’s march underscores the ongoing fight against structural racism and seeks to keep public spaces occupied for advocacy and solidarity.