Maria Trindade da Silva Costa was a Quilombola (afro descendant) leader in the Santana do Baixo Jambuaçu community in Moju, Pará state.
On 23 June 2017 Maria Trindade set off on her bicycle to visit friends in the area. Her body was found the next day. She had been badly beaten and there were alleged signs of sexual assault.
According to family members Dona Trindade (as she was known,) was popular in the area, where she was known for her work as a community leader and a respected defender of Quilombola rights. She was also an active member of a local church.
The brutality and sexual nature of the attack highlighted once again the double impact of racism and gender discrimination faced by Black women in Brazil and especially the vulnerability of women like Dona Trindade who campaign for Quilombola rights.