Marisa Letícia
Encyclopedia
Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva, (born Marisa Letícia Rocco Casa on April 7, 1950), is the second wife of former President of Brazil
Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva
, and thus she was the First Lady of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. Lula's first wife, Maria de Lourdes da Silva, died in labour
when Lula was in his twenties.
Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva was born in the city of São Bernardo do Campo
, in the ABCD region
of São Paulo
. There she grew up, studied, worked, married and built her political militancy. She has been married to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva since 1974 and has four children and two grandchildren.
Born of Italian grandparents, Marisa Letícia is the penultimate daughter among the Antonio João Casa and Regina Rocco Casa’s 11 children.
Until she was five years old, Marisa lived with her family in the old Casa farm, where her grandfather built the St. Anthony Chapel that exists until today. The area is currently known as the Casa neighborhood in honor of her family, one of the first ones to arrive.
In 1955 the family moved to downtown São Bernardo do Campo. Marisa’s first school was made of wood. In third grade she was transferred to the school Grupo Escolar Maria Iracema Munhoz. At age nine she started working as babysitter for three younger girls.
When she was thirteen years old, she got a job at the Dulcora chocolate factory. Because she could not be registered as an official worker, her father signed an authorization so she could work as a chocolate wrapper. She remained in the factory until she was twenty-one, when she became pregnant of her first son.
In 1973, widow and mother of one son of her first marriage, Maria Letícia returned to work, this time as a state school inspector hired by the City Hall. That same year she met Lula at the Metallurgist’s Trade Union of São Bernardo do Campo. Seven months later they got married.
In 1975, Lula was elected Head of the Metallurgist’s Trade Union of São Bernardo do Campo. This period also marked the beginning of Marisa’s political militancy. Always side by Lula, she encouraged other women to participate in the Trade Union of ABCD. Then, in 1978 the strike
s began in the ABC region of São Paulo.
The Workers' Party (PT)
was founded on 10 February 1980. Marisa cut and sewed the first flag
. Being an active militant, she helped to create the various divisions and stamp t-shirt
s in order to collect funds to the Party. In April of that same year, the Federal Government decreed the intervention in the union
. Having lost their gathering space, Marisa’s house became the stage for meetings of unionists, politicians, artists and intellectuals. Then, Lula and other union leaders were arrested.
During this time, Marisa helped to organize a women’s protest march
for releasing the Union leaders. Surrounded by policemen, tank
s and cavalry, thousands of women and children left Praça da Matriz and walked through Marechal Deodoro street to the Paço Municipal and returned to the Matriz Church. A great act was held with the participation of the then bishop
of Santo André
, Dom Cláudio Hummes
.
During the elections that Lula ran in 1982, 1986, 1994 and 1998 Marisa Letícia shared her time among her children, house and the campaigns. She also participated in the Citizenship Caravans that crossed the country. Together with Lula, she discovered the reality of the Brazilian people.
In 2002, having raised her four children to adulthood, the wife of candidate Lula was able to dedicate herself entirely to that year’s electoral campaign. At Lula’s side she crossed the country as his most valuable electoral support. Marisa’s constant and marking presence throughout Lula’s trajectory reaffirmed her position as first-comrade.
In one of President Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva’s trips abroad, in October 2003, the First Lady was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
In the 2009 biographical film
Lula, o filho do Brasil
, Marisa Letícia was portrayed by the actress Juliana Baroni
.
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
, and thus she was the First Lady of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. Lula's first wife, Maria de Lourdes da Silva, died in labour
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
when Lula was in his twenties.
Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva was born in the city of São Bernardo do Campo
São Bernardo do Campo
São Bernardo do Campo is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, in southern Metropolitan São Paulo and São Paulo microregion. The municipality's total area is 408.45 km ² and a population estimated at 1 July 2009, according to the IBGE, was 810,979 inhabitants, which results in a population...
, in the ABCD region
ABC Region
The term ABC Region is an industrial region in Greater São Paulo, Brazil.The name refers to three smaller cities bordering on São Paulo, capital of the Brazilian state of the same name. Originally, these three cities were Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo, and São Caetano do Sul...
of São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
. There she grew up, studied, worked, married and built her political militancy. She has been married to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva since 1974 and has four children and two grandchildren.
Born of Italian grandparents, Marisa Letícia is the penultimate daughter among the Antonio João Casa and Regina Rocco Casa’s 11 children.
Until she was five years old, Marisa lived with her family in the old Casa farm, where her grandfather built the St. Anthony Chapel that exists until today. The area is currently known as the Casa neighborhood in honor of her family, one of the first ones to arrive.
In 1955 the family moved to downtown São Bernardo do Campo. Marisa’s first school was made of wood. In third grade she was transferred to the school Grupo Escolar Maria Iracema Munhoz. At age nine she started working as babysitter for three younger girls.
When she was thirteen years old, she got a job at the Dulcora chocolate factory. Because she could not be registered as an official worker, her father signed an authorization so she could work as a chocolate wrapper. She remained in the factory until she was twenty-one, when she became pregnant of her first son.
In 1973, widow and mother of one son of her first marriage, Maria Letícia returned to work, this time as a state school inspector hired by the City Hall. That same year she met Lula at the Metallurgist’s Trade Union of São Bernardo do Campo. Seven months later they got married.
In 1975, Lula was elected Head of the Metallurgist’s Trade Union of São Bernardo do Campo. This period also marked the beginning of Marisa’s political militancy. Always side by Lula, she encouraged other women to participate in the Trade Union of ABCD. Then, in 1978 the strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
s began in the ABC region of São Paulo.
The Workers' Party (PT)
Workers' Party (Brazil)
The Workers' Party is a democratic socialist political party in Brazil. Launched in 1980, it is recognized as one of the largest and most important left-wing movements of Latin America. It governs at the federal level in a coalition government with several other parties since January 1, 2003...
was founded on 10 February 1980. Marisa cut and sewed the first flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
. Being an active militant, she helped to create the various divisions and stamp t-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s in order to collect funds to the Party. In April of that same year, the Federal Government decreed the intervention in the union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. Having lost their gathering space, Marisa’s house became the stage for meetings of unionists, politicians, artists and intellectuals. Then, Lula and other union leaders were arrested.
During this time, Marisa helped to organize a women’s protest march
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
for releasing the Union leaders. Surrounded by policemen, tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s and cavalry, thousands of women and children left Praça da Matriz and walked through Marechal Deodoro street to the Paço Municipal and returned to the Matriz Church. A great act was held with the participation of the then bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of Santo André
Roman Catholic Diocese of Santo André
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santo André is a diocese located in the city of Santo André, in the Ecclesiastical province of São Paulo in Brazil.-History:* July 18, 1954: Established as Diocese of Santo André from Metropolitan Archdiocese of São Paulo...
, Dom Cláudio Hummes
Cláudio Hummes
Cláudio Hummes, OFM is a Brazilian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Roman Curia , having previously served as Archbishop of Fortaleza from 1996 to 1998 and archbishop of São Paulo from 1998 to 2006...
.
During the elections that Lula ran in 1982, 1986, 1994 and 1998 Marisa Letícia shared her time among her children, house and the campaigns. She also participated in the Citizenship Caravans that crossed the country. Together with Lula, she discovered the reality of the Brazilian people.
In 2002, having raised her four children to adulthood, the wife of candidate Lula was able to dedicate herself entirely to that year’s electoral campaign. At Lula’s side she crossed the country as his most valuable electoral support. Marisa’s constant and marking presence throughout Lula’s trajectory reaffirmed her position as first-comrade.
In one of President Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva’s trips abroad, in October 2003, the First Lady was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
In the 2009 biographical film
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
Lula, o filho do Brasil
Lula, o filho do Brasil
Lula, The Son of Brazil is a 2009 biographical Brazilian drama film based on the early life of former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Directed by Academy Award-nominated director Fábio Barreto, the film was released on January 1, 2010...
, Marisa Letícia was portrayed by the actress Juliana Baroni
Juliana Baroni
Juliana Riva Baroni is a Brazilian actress, dancer and singer. She is best known for being a paquita for five years and for her leading role on the Rede Bandeirantes telenovela Dance, Dance, Dance.-Career:...
.