Rossio camp promises to resist despite strong wind (and tourists)

Oprotesters for the right to housing who slept tonight in Rossio woke up without police nearby, but with tourists photographing and a strong wind pushing the empty tents onto the road.

“This is an incredible wind,” said Ana, shortly after she went to pick up a tent that almost crossed the Rossio treadmill to Figueira Square by herself.

This morning, the police device that watches Rossio's camp is residual and the wind is the main opponent. “I think she preferred the cops, horseshit”, complained Ana, with an angry smile.

Bruno, 30 years old and one of the promoters of the demonstration, told Lusa that “the police demobilized at three in the morning”, a first success of the protesters, who had the support of many anonymous Portuguese.

“If the camp didn’t have the participation of so many people we have to thank, maybe it would be easier to get us away from here,” explained the computer engineer, who says he had a good night.

“I slept like a stone, like the floor,” he replied, pointing to the Portuguese sidewalk where it is not possible to lay stakes to fix the tents.

“It is noted that there is a popular solidarity” and “we are here to stay”, the activist warned, complaining of inhuman rents.

“ I was lucky, but I also know I'm privileged because I have a good salary and I managed to rent a house without a contract, but all this is unfair. Very unfair”, he said.

Among the claims, the group demands the end of the reform of the rent law, approved in the specialty by the right-wing parties, more public housing park or the end of evictions for those who have no other option.

“ Today is today, tomorrow will be another day, but we will only leave if our demands are met”, he said, while eating a candy ball distributed free of charge on a bench, where there was a poster “Here are capitalists”.

Next to the statue, near the camp, posters were placed where phrases such as “Luís, selfishness is stealing our future”, “my heritage will be a crisis of anxiety” or “If there is no justice for the people, there will be no peace for the government”.

Lugi and Ana, a retired couple of teachers, tourists from Turin (Italy) who visit Lisbon these days, discussed the reasons for the demonstration.

Luigi, on the right, criticized young people and lamented “the way European youth was conquered by ‘wokism’”.

Ana, on the left, laughed at her husband and applauded the activists. “You have to do something for your future,” Lusa said.

A few meters away, Pedro Lourenço, 26, still living in his parents’ homes in Mafra, interviewed other tourists with a compact camera to publish on social networks.

“I want to capture the essence of this movement and this incredible energy”, but also “to approach the people who pass by”, because “we cannot live in separate bubbles,” he explained.

When addressing foreign or Portuguese tourists, the answer is disparate, he recognized.

“There are many who know what is happening in Spain and are supportive, but there are others who tell us to go to work. This is normal,” he said.

But after a first conversation, the negative reactions change. “If you let me explain what we stand for, it becomes simpler. We just want a right to a fair life. And some older people who were against this at first wish us “good luck” in our fight,” added Pedro Lourenço.

As for Monday, many of the activists already discuss how to reconcile work and protest.

But that's not the case with Bruno.

“ I'm even on telework, so I have no problem staying here. Advantages of computer science. Only if they block the internet”, he said, between smiles.