A dramatic confrontation erupted at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, when dozens of Indigenous protesters forced their way into the venue and clashed with security guards. The demonstrators, part of a larger march of hundreds, demanded urgent climate action, forest protection, and recognition of Indigenous land rights.
Carrying flags and signs declaring “Our land is not for sale,” the protesters shouted angrily as they tried to breach the entrance of the U.N. compound, where thousands of delegates from around the world are gathered. One leader, Gilmar of the Tupinamba community, said: “We can’t eat money. We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers.”
Security guards scrambled to hold back the crowd, using tables to barricade the entrance. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes, with one guard rushed away in a wheelchair clutching his stomach and another injured by a drumstick thrown from the crowd. Several heavy sticks were confiscated before the protesters dispersed.
The United Nations confirmed that two security staff sustained minor injuries and that the venue suffered limited damage. Brazilian and U.N. authorities quickly secured the compound, assuring delegates that negotiations would continue without disruption.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has emphasized the importance of Indigenous voices in this year’s summit, highlighting their role as guardians of the Amazon. The protest underscored the tension between grassroots demands for immediate action and the slower pace of international climate negotiations.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the urgency felt by Indigenous communities, who argue that without securing their land rights and halting destructive industries, global climate pledges will remain empty promises. Their message was clear: protecting the Amazon is not just a matter of policy, but of survival.
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