Mayor of Braga condemns graffiti: “Without houses there is no future”

O president of the Chamber of Braga, João Rodrigues, today condemned the vandalization, last night, of the building of the Paços do Conselho with the graffiti, in the facade, of the sentence “Without houses there is no future.”.

In a note published on Facebook, João Rodrigues (PSD) says he agrees with the sentence, but condemns “absolutely the form chosen to write it”.

Municipal source told Lusa that there will be complaint against uncertain.

“I deeply respect freedom of expression. What we will not tolerate is the vandalisation of the heritage that belongs to everyone, the intimidation of those who think differently or the threat to those who have the courage to speak. Let alone violence as a means of imposing ideas. It's not mine; it's from the Bracarenses. And those who protest peacefully should not be confused with those who go beyond these limits”, writes the mayor.

João Rodrigues stresses that he knows well the size of the housing problem, which understands the indignation of those who cannot afford a house and who know how much work is ahead.

“ But that can't be an excuse for everything. And the paintings aren't the most serious. They are an example that deserves to be recorded, especially when there are already bold appeals to which the clashes and episodes of violence that we have seen in France are reproduced in Portugal”, he adds.

João Rodrigues says he is concerned with the normalization of speeches of intimidation and threats, but also with the silence of those who fear condemning them, “it will not seem to be against the right to housing”.

“ Moderates (the overwhelming majority of people) do not have to apologize for their being, nor to present evidence of social sensitivity to defend elementary principles. Moderateness is neither tibia nor lack of courage. Quite the contrary. And painting a wall is not the same as threatening or assaulting. But we don’t have to wait for the worst to tell where the limits are”, writes the mayor.

The mayor reiterates that he “deeply respects freedom of expression”, but warns that he will not tolerate “the vandalization of the heritage that belongs to everyone, the intimidation of those who think differently or the threat to those who have the courage to speak”.

“Let alone violence as a way to impose ideas,” he says.

The city of Braga was the scene, on Wednesday night, of a “popular assembly” in defense of housing and better living conditions, like what had already happened the night before.

On Wednesday evening, the participants decided to hold a new popular assembly in the city center on Saturday, from 3:00 p.m.

In addition to this proposal, the approximately two hundred people present in Praça da República also voted in favour of holding a camp in Braga, but without setting a date, promoting a public session on the new rent law, contact with local residents and support for an Iberian general strike.