Worldwide protests demand stop to Brazil's assault on indigenous rights - Survival International

Worldwide protests demand stop to Brazil's assault on indigenous rights - Survival International

Supporters of human rights organization Survival International held a vocal protest outside the Brazilian embassy in London today in support of thousands of indigenous demonstrators in Brazil rallying against the onslaught of their hard-won land rights.

Nixiwaka Yawanawá, an Amazon Indian from Brazil, led the London protest wearing his tribe’s headdress and facial decorations. He was joined by dozens of supporters wearing tribal face paint and carrying placards.

Nixiwaka said, ’We’re here to support our indigenous brothers and sisters in Brazil who are facing the worst assault on their rights in decades. We, Brazil’s indigenous peoples, have lived on our lands for as long as we can remember, and we cannot live without them. These new laws would mean the end of our rights to our lands and must not be passed!’

Protests are being held across Brazil and the world this week against attempts by the Brazilian government to water down indigenous peoples’ constitutional rights in the name of the country’s push for industrialization and ‘development’.