After clashes, woman alone with whistle protested in square D. João I

Dafter a night of conflict between protesters for housing and police in Praça D. João I, in Porto, and when the space was already empty, a woman alone wanted to make noise this morning against police violence.

Virginia Valente arrived at 8 a.m. to D. João I Square in Porto, already empty of the protesters who since Saturday have concentrated on this place to demand more housing and who tonight were the target of police cargo.

Alone, with a whistle and a sign, Virginia Valente told Lusa that she could not be quiet and quiet, after watching videos of what she said was police violence on people “who manifested themselves peacefully.”.

“The police used violence just because people were singing,” he said, adding, “it’s a bit ridiculous to be here alone but I wasn’t able to go to work, do my life, without expressing my disgust.”.

Praça D. João I, in Porto, the scene of protests for housing since Saturday, dawned empty today after a police intervention occurred at dawn and caused 37 wounded, according to the Movement that called the protest.

At the scene, at the beginning of the morning, about 7:30 a.m., there was only the Public Security Police (PSP) and cleaning cars from the City Hall of Porto, which collected the garbage left, being visible in the center of the Square remnants of something that had burned.

The Housing Movement reported that during the early hours of today there was a police intervention that caused injuries in 37 of the participants, two of whom were in serious condition.

“ You can't turn your head to this violent attitude. What I feel right now is a bit of anger. There was a group of people here peacefully defending the interests of those who see themselves unable to afford a house. It shocks me the lack of solidarity and empathy of people”, lamented Virginia Valente.

According to the movement, among the wounded is a disabled person and several participants in the concentration were hospitalized.

In statements to the agency Lusa, the commander of the Volunteer Firefighters of Porto, Luís Silva, said that eight activists of the Movement went to the headquarters of the corporation to be assisted, two of which were transported to the Hospital of Santo António, in Porto.

Meanwhile, in statements to journalists, Pedro Manuel, one of the members of the Movement said that the police arrived when they were already dismounting the tents and still invested in them.

The participants again installed tents during the night, which were removed by the police, after the mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, said on Wednesday that it would be “absolutely relentless with any attempt to place tents” in the square D. João I”.