“Even in the face of so much pain, the legacy continues.” The phrase that unites those who had their lives impacted by the quilombola leadership Maria Bernadete Pacific, better known as mother Bernadete Pacific, marked the honors made to her on Sunday (17). Exactly two years ago, Mother Bernadete was murdered at her home, headquarters of the Quilombola Association, in the community of Pitanga dos Palmares, in the municipality of Simões Filho (BA).
This August 17, 2025, the community united in tribute and called for justice. Quilombola coffee was followed by religious celebrations. First, a mass and then the Oxumaré wheel, which was the orisha of Mother Bernardete.
“It’s not easy. I just want to say it’s not easy to be in this place, it’s not easy not to sleep every day,” says mother Bernadete’s son, Jurandir Wellington Pacific.
Mother Bernadete was shot in August 2023. She acted as the National Coordinator of Quilombos Articulation and Leader of Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares. Leadership in the community had denounced the performance of loggers and drug traffickers in environmental protection areas.
Before his mother, Jurandir lost his brother. Flávio Gabriel Pacifico dos Santos, known as Binho do Quilombo, was shot dead in the car, near the house, also in Pitanga dos Palmares. Mother Bernadete fought for years for an answer to her son’s murder.
“I took an oath. My mother killed with 25 shots. I will drop everything I have, all my academic life, to continue his legacy,” said Jurandir, before the community, in speech.
WInCo People were denounced by the prosecutor on suspicion of involvement in the murder of mother Bernadete. The popular jury is still out of date.
Brasília (DF), 17/08/2025 – Act in memory of Pacific Mother Bernadete, murdered two years ago at Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares. Photo: Disclosure – Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares Association.
Defense of communities
This Sunday’s honors also attended the presence of the Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Macaé Evaristo, who stressed the ministry’s commitment to continue defending the rights of communities.
“We need to be here with this commitment, which is life commitment, which is linked to strengthening our quilombola communities and is linked to ensuring sovereignty and democracy of our country. Without democracy, it has no life for our communities,” said the minister.
Macaé Evaristo also said that indigenous and quilombola leaders are most of human rights advocates in the ministry’s protection program.
“The largest number of cases we have within this protection program is people who fight for the maintenance of their territories. They are indigenous leaders, they are quilombola leaders, terreiro leadership, leaders who are fighting mining in many states of our country,” he said.
THE Protection Program for Defenders of Human Rights, Communicators and Environmentalists (PPDDH) It has the function of articulating measures for the protection of threatened people as a result of their action in the defense of human rights.
The phrase “even in the face of so much pain, the legacy continues” was repeated by both Jurandir and the minister and sung by the members of the community present.
Brasília (DF), 17/08/2025 – Act in memory of Pacific Mother Bernadete, murdered two years ago at Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares. Minister Macaé Evaristo and Jurandir Pacific, son of mother Bernadete. Photo: Duda Rodrigues/MDHC – DUDA RODRIGUES/MDHC
Violence in Brazil
Survey of Global Rights and Justice Organizations showed that from 2019 to 2022, Brazil recorded 1,171 cases of violence against human rights defenders, with 169 people murdered. A brand that places Brazil among the most dangerous countries in the world for those who defend human rights.
Between 2023 and 2024, a new survey released this month, shows that there was a fall, 486 victims, among them, 55 were murdered. Organizations warn, however, that even with a reduction, the frequency of violations remains alarming: on average, one person suffers violence for defending human rights every 36 hours in Brazil.
