Brazilian court records or official government announcements

Lula Signs 16 Decrees to Regularize Quilombo Territories in 8 States, Benefiting 1,123 Families

Nov 30, 2024, 11:35 AM

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a series of decrees aimed at regularizing territories for quilombos, communities established by descendants of escaped slaves, in eight Brazilian states. On Friday, November 29, Lula signed 16 decrees to expropriate land for quilombos, benefiting 1,123 families and approximately 4,000 individuals. This move is seen as a significant step in historical reparation and social justice for these communities. The states affected include Bahia, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba, Piauí, and São Paulo. The decrees are part of a broader initiative to strengthen and support these traditional communities, marking a historic moment in Brazil's efforts towards racial equality and land rights. One of the communities benefiting from these decrees is the quilombo of Lençóis in Bahia, which inspired the novel 'Torto Arado'.