CRIME: Chico Mendes: Killed for the Trees
Summary
Host Vanessa Richardson details the life and assassination of Chico Mendes, an Amazonian rubber tapper who led nonviolent resistance against deforestation. The episode covers his rise from illiterate worker to global environmental icon, his murder by rancher Darly Alves, and the subsequent legal battles. It also explores how Mendes’ legacy endured through extractive reserves and his daughter Angela’s continued activism, while his killers largely escaped lasting justice.
Listen ad-free on Castria