Tapajós de Fato, an independent journalism outlet based in the Brazilian Amazon, has declared it will not provide coverage for the upcoming national elections. The decision follows a series of escalating threats and acts of intimidation directed at the site’s founders and staff. According to reports, the outlet has faced significant hostility since the previous presidential election cycle four years ago.

Specific incidents cited by the organization include the slashing of tires on a company vehicle and the discovery of a severed cat’s head left near the office, accompanied by a note threatening founder Marcos Wesley Pedroso. The intimidation has reportedly continued into the present year. In July, security footage captured individuals circling Pedroso’s residence and filming his vehicle shortly before it was struck in a deliberate collision. These events have led the staff to conclude that continuing their reporting work poses an immediate risk to their physical safety.

While the outlet has documented these specific instances of harassment, the broader context of political violence against journalists in the region remains a point of concern for press freedom advocates. The decision to withdraw from election coverage highlights the challenges faced by independent media operating in volatile political environments, where local reporting is often met with physical retaliation rather than public debate.