Port Camp approves spending the night in D. João I Square with tents

As about 2,500 people concentrated in Praça D. João I, in Porto, approved today by majority continue with camp tonight, using tents, having said know that PSP will not intervene next morning.

“ Setting up the tents doesn't mean they'll be up all night. The tent is a symbol. They can come here and say we have to dismantle the tents and then we will vote”, was stated by the assembly table.

The decision takes place after, in the last morning, the third police charge since October 15 has ended, again, with the peaceful protest in that square of downtown Portuense.

At the meeting, the movement announced to have accounted for 35 minor and four serious injuries, in addition to seven detainees as a result of the police charge, and one vote of repudiation was approved.

The protesters also decided to refuse the invitation of the mayor of Porto, to meet with him next Tuesday, in the Palaces of the Council.

Today, the municipality of Portuense announced Pedro Duarte's willingness to address, among other issues, the compatibility of the right to manifestation with the availability of urban spaces (in particular, in the Christmas period) and the possibility of occasional camps.

The preparation and possible scheduling of an extended meeting (which may take place at the Rivoli Theatre or other municipal space) on the current situation of access to housing and debate on potential responses is another topic on the agenda of the mayor communicated in the email.

PSP dispersed early today the camped by the right to housing in Rossio, in Lisbon, and in Praça D. João I, in Porto, removing about 100 tents. The intervention culminated in police charges and throwing objects, causing more than two dozen wounded between demonstrators and police.

The police action motivated a request for clarification from the President of the Republic to the Government and the Ombudsman, and the announcement of a criminal complaint by a lawyer for abuse of power against the Minister of the Internal Administration and the Director of the PSP.

In the camps, which began on October 10th, protesters demand the reversal of the new rental law, the end of demolitions and evictions without housing alternative, a brake on housing purchase by real estate funds, the increase in public housing, the recovery of vacant buildings for housing purposes and “truely accessible” ceilings to income.