Protesters in Porto demand resignation from the Government and Iberian general strike

Oprotesters for housing in Porto, gathered in a popular assembly since 19h49 in Praça D. João I, today asked for the resignation of the government and the realization of an Iberian general strike.

During the popular assembly, which continues at 9 p.m., were shouted several times by the collective that fills the square, slogans such as “demission” or “general strike from Spain to Portugal”.

The resignations were addressed both to the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, and to the Government in general: “This government cannot continue and has to fall,” said a protester to the square, having been followed by cries of “fire” throughout the square.

Another protester, who had been arrested early today, asked for a “general strike for housing”, and the crowd then exclaimed a request for “general strike from Spain to Portugal”.

Songs such as “April 25th always” or “the united people will never be defeated” are repeatedly sung in Praça D. João I.

The popular assembly of the Porto Camp today made a minute of silence in Praça D. João I by the protesters who were attacked by the police this morning.

After the minute of silence the vote was put to the vote and unanimously approved the “continuation of peaceful resistance”.

A unanimous appeal was also approved to the President of the Republic to take a stand on the violence committed against demonstrators.

Article 45 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic was recalled, where it is said that citizens are entitled to demonstration without authorization and was asked to resign the mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte.

The PSP dispersed today at dawn, batonada and with the use of dogs, demonstrations for the right to housing in Lisbon and Porto, after more than two hours of tension and orders for people to leave and tents to be removed.

The police intervened after the protesters had not followed orders, invoking the constitutional right to the demonstration.

According to the PSP, there were 33 injured protesters, 27 of them in Lisbon and six in Porto.

In a statement, the Lisbon Camp mentions dozens of wounded, 37 of them in Porto.

The protesters demand the reversal of the new rental law, the end of demolitions and evictions without an alternative housing, a stop to the purchase of housing by real estate funds, the increase in public housing, the recovery of vacant buildings for housing purposes and ceilings “truely accessible” to income.