Neonazi Festival: Association requested exit, instructions “not accepted”

A Cultural and Recreational Association (A.C.R.) of the Matrix lamented, this Sunday, the situation that involved the holding of a neonazi festival in its space. The association of Póvoa de Varzim explained that it did not know the nature of the marking when it was made, revealing yesterday that the gathering marked as a “birthday party”. The entity responsible for the space also tried to prevent the second day of festival, October 31, but the instruction “was not accepted”.

“The A.C.R. Matrix deeply regrets the events related to the holding of an event on its premises. The Direction only took note of the alleged the nature and purpose of the initiative at the beginning of the evening of 30 october, when the event was already underway”, first read in a statement issued on social network Facebook, in which it is also described that after knowing the situation, “a night of meetings and analysis of the facts followed in conjunction with the Legal Department of the Association”.

Already on Saturday morning, day corresponding to the second festival day, the “Direction formally communicated to the person who had hired the space that did not intend to continue the event in its premises, giving express instructions to leave the site. These instructions have not been complied with.”.

“ In view of the use of legal mechanisms and always guiding its action by respect for the law and the prevention of any confrontation or recourse to force, the Direction chose not to aggravate the situation“, read in the note.

The A.C.R. Matrix points out that “it is not in any circumstances seen in the alleged nature and purpose of the initiative concerned”.

Speaking about the 41 years of existence of the collective, the group recalls that it has a “cultural activity of centuries-old roots, more than 500 partners and a strong connection to the community, through our cultural, recreational and sporting activities”.

“ We are against any form of radicalism, extremism or intolerance, regardless of its origin or orientation ", reinforce.

The A.C.R. Matrix also regrets the “political use that some have sought to make of this situation, as well as the involuntary involvement of the City Council, an entity with which we maintain an institutional relationship of several decades and which we highly value”.

For now, the legal department of the association is examining “facts” and preparing appropriate legal steps, not seeking compensation or financial compensation, but the clarification and transparency of what happened.

“ We seek justice, the establishment of truth and prevent other institutions or people from going through similar situations. Our history, our values and our community deserve to be defended ", the direction of the association continues.

It should be noted that the special noise license, which prevented concerts beyond midnight, was revoked by the municipality. Still on Saturday, and already after the association explained that it “did not authorize” the realization of this second festival day in space, the Jornal de Notícias (JN) realized that the meeting was still held.

Several neighbors will have called the Public Security Police in the same way, but according to what wrote the above mentioned publication yesterday, there was no police intervention. The hours already authorized will have been “compliant”, according to what police source Porto explained to JN, adding: “The police could stop the event if they asked for an opinion, but we only knew later and the event was taking place on a private and legal property”.

The JN, which advanced with the news, also found that when the association tried to prevent the festival, the organization of the event entered a precautionary measure in the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Porto. The case was not considered urgent and should only be distributed on Monday, as the festival ended.

♪ It all started ♪ when hundreds of people gathered on friday night for the first day of the third edition of the neonazi music festival “Master of the Sea”, an event that is organized in secret by Blood & Honor Portugal.

Blood & Honor are a neo-Nazi international network founded in 1987 in the UK by Ian Stuart Donaldson and Nicky Crane. The group is banned and banned in countries such as Germany, Spain, Russia or Canada. 

Although restricted in several countries, there are branches of the group spread across Europe, such as Blood & Honor Portugal, which was founded in 1998.

The Expresso states that the group is one of the extreme right-wing organizations that most concern the Portuguese authorities, being investigated for several years and monitoring the Security Information Service.