On May 20, day 2 of the Xingu Encounter of indigenous people and allies opposing new dams on the Xingu River, a representative of the Brazilian electric company Electrobras was rushed by a machete-wielding group of indigenous women and men angry at his disregard for their concerns.

Eletrobras representative, Paulo Fernando Vieira Souto Rezende spoke of the need for new dams to meet increasing electric demand in Brazil. During his speech, non-indigenous farmers and river dwellers became angry and began to chant and boo. When the speech was finished, a group of indigenous women and warriors rushed the stage, brandishing machetes and war clubs. The apologist for genocide was shoved to the ground and poked with a machete, cutting his arm. He was pulled away by conference organizers and taken to a hospital.

While NGO groups that had organized the conference disavowed the violence, they emphasized that indigenous people have good reasons to be angry and that much greater violence is regularly practiced against them by the Brazilian state and corporate interests.

The Brazilian government is planning six small dams near the headwaters of the Xingu and one large dam, known as Belo Monte, farther downstream.

The gathering closed three days later with a swim in the Xingu River, highlighting all that would be lost if the dams proceed.