In a moving letter recalling his sister Lucia, who died after one of the most gruesome rapes in Argentina's recent history, her brother complained that his family had “to process the death threats that are falling on all of us.”
On Oct. 8, Lucia Perez, 16, in Mar del Plata, was drugged with cocaine, raped multiple times and “impaled” with an “unspecified object,” causing internal bleeding and resulting in her death. Three suspects have been arrested, including the two men who took her body to a medical center and tried to cover up the crime and make it look like an overdose.
“In each verse of Viejas Locas, in each mosh, in each hug to some abandoned pet, Lucia will always be present, smiling, looking at her dog, and giving good vibes to everybody,” said Matias Perez Montero.
His sister did not go out very often, he said. On this tragic Saturday, the boys picked her up at home around 10 a.m., she meant to return quickly, leaving her "mate" (typical Argentine tea) ready and her Facebook opened, recalled his brother, who believes “they tricked her.”
About 6 p.m., a friend of Lucia's told her brother to go to the police station because Lucia had “an accident.” After hearing the terrible news from a police officer, he identified the body, finding her with her eyes half-opened.
Matias concluded the letter by demanding total truth and justice in the case.
IN DEPTH:
Women Resist
“And we should be aware that if this time, Lucia was the victim of such brutal gender violence, the next one can be you, or the person you love the most. We have to strengthen up, and take to the streets in order to shout out together: Not One Less.”
In a Facebook post, the brother said shouting together was the only way to prevent "thousands more Lucias" being killed, and the only way to "close her eyes and see her rest in peace."
The Ni Una Menos collective, or Not One Less, organized a strike and march throughout Argentina Wednesday afternoon bringing out tens of thousands against gender violence.