Indigenous activists in Brazil clash with security at COP30 DW 11/12/2025

"Dozens of Indigenous protesters and other climate activists on Tuesday evening forced their way into the main venue of the UN climate summit being held in Brazil. They then scuffled with security officers inside the compound where thousands of delegates from countries around the world are attending this year's COP30 climate summit in the Amazon city of Belem. Some of the protesters waved flags and chanted, while others held slogans calling for land rights or carried signs saying, "Our land is not for sale.""

""We can't eat money," said Gilmar, an Indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community near the lower reaches of the Tapajos River in Brazil, told Reuters news agency. "We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers," said Gilmar, who only uses one name. Agustin Ocana, mobilization coordinator for youth with the Global Youth Coalition, told The Associated Press news agency that some of the group were chanting, "They cannot decide for us without us.""

"Security staff suffered minor injuries in the clash Journalists at the scene reported seeing a police officer being evacuated in a wheelchair. Another guard with a fresh cut above his eye told Reuters he had been hit in the head by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. Ocanasaid he saw protesters and security hitting each other with small plastic bins. One guard was bleeding from being hit in the head, he said. Security confiscated several long, heavy sticks."

Dozens of Indigenous protesters and climate activists forced their way into the main COP30 venue in Belém, Brazil, and scuffled with security officers inside the compound. Protesters waved flags, chanted and held signs demanding land rights and opposing agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and loggers. Security staff suffered minor injuries; journalists reported a police officer evacuated in a wheelchair and a guard hit by a heavy drumstick. Security confiscated long sticks and reported minor venue damage. UN police were asking remaining attendees to evacuate as the confrontation occurred while people were leaving the event.

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