Cleomar Rodrigues de Almeida, 49, a community leader of “Liga dos Camponeses Pobres do Norte de Minas e Bahia”, was shot dead on October 22, 2014, in the Municipality of Pedras de Maria da Cruz, in Minas Gerais state. He was ambushed on his way home by a group of gunmen and police, who were commanded by an upset farmer.

At the time of reporting, he and 35 (thirty-five) families had been living in an encampment called « Unidos com Deus Venceremos” since 2008.

Sources state that the leader reported to Brazilian authorities that he had received threats from the farm owner. However, this had no results.

Additionally, on October 9, 2014, there was a public hearing,  at which the community leader reported some  harassment that was carried out by a local land owner. The main complaint was installation of a gate on one of the roads to block access to the « Unidos com Deus Venceremos” encampment.

After the leader’s death, there had been many solidarity demonstrations to call for justice and for the culprits of  Cleomar’s death to be punished.