“Justice for Odair Moniz” and “not another dead police officer”: two demonstrations remain peaceful
The two protests called for this Saturday afternoon, one by the Vida Justa movement and the other by Chega, took place peacefully, with no incidents to be recorded so far. The Chega demonstration, between Praça do Município and the Assembly of the Republic, has already ended. The Vida Justa meeting also reached its destination, in Restauradores, chanting that “without justice there is no peace”.
There was a possibility that the two protests would cross paths at the end, next to Parliament, but the Vida Justa movement chose to change the destination of its demonstration, towards the Restauradores.
The police prepared a reinforced security device to avoid clashes and appealed for tranquility.
The Vida Justa movement understands that “it is necessary to do justice and condemn the death of Odair Moniz by the police”. Because “there are too many deaths in communities” and “it is necessary to put an end to violence and police impunity in neighborhoods” and for “people to stop being treated as non-citizens who can be attacked and killed”.
Many hundreds of people are currently participating in the protest, which is now heading down Avenida da Liberdade. The organization estimates there are around three thousand. They shout “Future present, Odair Semper”, there are posters with the face of the resident of the Zambujal neighborhood and many flags from Cape Verde, the country where the cook was born 43 years ago. The police have a discreet device.
Many young people and political figures are taking part in the demonstration, such as Catarina Martins, from Bloco de Esquerda, Daniel Oliveira and former environment minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes.
Upon arrival at Restauradores, the cry of protest focuses on racial discrimination, with protesters shouting that “police violence is a colonial legacy”.
In the parade called by Chega, for the same time, there is an appeal for respect for the work of the police, who are “often attacked and poorly treated”.
Speaking to journalists, André Ventura, leader of Chega, one of those targeted in the investigation opened by the PGR for statements made surrounding the death of Odair Moniz, says that “those who have to go to jail are those who are killing, those who who is stealing, who is destroying and not who wants to defend the police”.
“I saw and followed the complaints made against me. What I hope our country can do is that after we have a country on fire, with people attacked and buses, what I hope is that the accused, the only ones, are not the ones who defended the police. I hope that those who put people at risk, what I hope is that they are charged. Don’t be the messenger who is arrested”, he reinforced.
