Thursday's demonstrations were called by the National Indigenous Confederation of Ecuador (CONAIE) and the Workers' United Front (FUT)—Ecuador's main indigenous and trade union organizations—under conditions of growing popular opposition to the Correa government.

On Wednesday, thousands of indigenous people arrived at El Arbelito park in Quito after concluding an 800 kilometer, ten-day march that began in the rural southeastern village of El Pangui. According to CONAIE, over 20,000 peasants participated in the march.

Additionally, indigenous protesters set-up road barriers, blocking highway traffic in seven of the country's 24 provinces.