Dozens of Indigenous protesters forced their way into the COP30 climate summit venue on Tuesday and clashed with security guards at the entrance, demanding stronger climate action and greater protection of forests.
Shouting angrily, protesters sought access to the U.N. compound where thousands of delegates from around the world are attending this year’s U.N. climate conference in the Amazon city of Belem, Brazil.
Some waved flags calling for land rights, while others carried signs reading, “Our land is not for sale.”
“We can’t eat money,” said Gilmar, an Indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community near the Tapajos River, who uses only one name. “We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners, and illegal loggers.”
Clashes at the entrance
Security guards pushed protesters back and used tables to barricade the entrance. A Reuters witness saw one guard being rushed away in a wheelchair, clutching his stomach.
Another guard, bleeding from a cut above his eye, said he had been hit in the head by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. Security personnel later confiscated several long, heavy sticks.
The protesters dispersed shortly after the confrontation. They were part of a larger group of hundreds who had marched to the venue earlier in the day.
Guards temporarily restricted access for delegates, asking them to remain inside until the area was secure. The United Nations oversees security within the compound.
U.N. confirms minor damage
“Earlier this evening, a group of protesters breached security barriers at the main entrance to the COP, causing minor injuries to two security staff, and minor damage to the venue,” a U.N. spokesperson said in a statement.
“Brazilian and U.N. security personnel took protective actions to secure the venue, following all established security protocols. Brazilian and U.N. authorities are investigating the incident. The venue is fully secured, and COP negotiations continue.”
Indigenous voices at center of talks
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made Indigenous participation a priority at COP30, framing native communities as vital partners in protecting the Amazon and combating climate change.
Earlier this week, dozens of Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to join the talks, demanding more influence over forest management policies.
In a separate interview on Tuesday, Chief Raoni Metuktire, one of Brazil’s most prominent Indigenous leaders, told Reuters that many native communities are angered by ongoing industry and development projects in the rainforest.
Raoni urged the government to empower Indigenous peoples to lead conservation efforts, saying, “If we are to save the forest, we must first listen to those who live within it.”
