SESAI Defense Campaign (2019)

The SESAI Defense Campaign was a defense of indigenous healthcare in Brazil in March 2019.

Events

At sunrise of the 25th of March, 2019, 300 indigenous Ava-Guarani occupied the Ayrton Senna Bridge near Paraguay until noon to protest to closure of the Special Secretariat of Indigenous Health (SESAI).

The next day (26th of March), indigenous Tupinambá, Pataxó and Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe collectively held a protest and eventual sit-in of the Ministry of Health in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil. In Boa Vista, 100 indigenous people and SESAI workers blocked a highway.

The next day (27th of March) saw over 30 protests in 18 different states, at noon, 300 Indigenous peoples led a demonstration in front of the headquarters of the Special Indigenous Sanitary District (DSEI) that later turned into an occupation of the building. The day also saw the occupation of São Paulo City Hall by Guarani peoples, 200 of whom remained on the steps of the building after being turned away after demanding the mayor meet with them. Police pepper-sprayed Guarani protestors, who danced in the entryway of the building before leaving. At the Ministry of Health in Amazonas, 800 Indigenous peoples occupied the headquarters. Two more highways were blocked.

Results

The protests led to the closure of SESAI being canceled on the 28th of March.

References

Indigenous Brazilians mobilize against proposed termination of SESAI at the Global Nonviolent Action Database