Brazil Indigenous urge better rainforest protection

Indigenous women representing a cross-section of native Amazon tribes rallied in Sao Paulo Sunday, seeking better government protection for Indigenous reserves in the rainforest.

The outdoor event comes a day ahead of a nationwide demonstration called by activists in support of "Day of the Amazon" rallies to halt illegal logging, mining, and ranching in the vast rainforest.

The demonstrations are being held after an Indigenous activist group announced two members of a Brazilian Indigenous group, known for its forest guardians who combat illegal deforestation, were killed early Wednesday morning.

Annual Indigenous violence report, released last month, reported that 176 Indigenous people were killed in 2021, down slightly from the prior year but well above the average from the preceding five years of 123.