Indigenous women in Brazil hold protest against Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO – Hundreds of indigenous women are arriving in Brazil’s capital to protest the policies of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Tamikua Faustino of the Pataxó tribe told The Associated Press: “It’s time to cry out for help.”

Many of the women wore traditional attire and painted their faces as part of a multiday encampment in Brasilia aimed at highlighting indigenous rights issues.

Since taking office in January, the administration of Bolsonaro has consistently clashed with environmentalists and others over possibly opening up the Amazon rainforest to development and agribusiness.

Recent data has also pointed to a surge in deforestation, which frequently occurs on indigenous reserves.

“Deforestation is a killer. If we don’t stick together, in the near future we’ll be eliminated,” Faustino said.