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Protesters wanted to be heard and urged for negotiations with them, sai Alessandra Korap, a Munduruku woman from Pará State
Over 100 Indigenous protesters blocked the main entrance to the UN climate conference (COP30) on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon for 90 minutes on Friday.
The peaceful standoff featured impassioned appeals from Indigenous leaders. Protesters wanted to be heard and urged for negotiations with them, said Alessandra Korap, a Munduruku woman from Pará State. Her statement highlighted the central conflict of a conference touted as empowering Indigenous voices, yet which protesters say continues to exclude them from critical decisions about their lands.
Korap directly criticized President Lula’s policies, citing Decree 12075 on waterways and accusing his government of prioritizing destructive industries over Indigenous rights. The protest follows violent clashes earlier in the week, underscoring mounting frustration over resource exploitation in Indigenous territories.
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The demonstration concluded after COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago engaged protesters in lengthy talks, even cradling a baby during discussions. He ultimately authorized a group to enter through a side door, while UN staff rerouted hundreds of other attendees.
