The square of D. João I, in Porto, again welcomed about 300 people before the popular assembly that began at 20:00, in the continuation of the protest for the right to housing, which began on October 10.
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29/10/2026
by
Lusa
A Praça de D. João I, in Porto, today welcomed again about 300 people before the popular assembly that began at 20:00, in the continuation of the protest for the right to housing, which began on October 10.
In front of the Teatro Municipal Rivoli, several dozen people gathered before 8:00 p.m. to attend a concert by the Gondomaran duo João No & Lil Noon and, in the case of the younger ones, to play with the games available on a small table set up to “resist playing”, with chess, paint books and chalk to draw on the floor.
As has happened since 10 October, free meals continue to be distributed in the popular canteen of the Campada, which has served “200 or 300” people every day, as told to Lusa on Wednesday Diana Lourenço, 22, who has dedicated much of her days to this voluntary mission.
The canteen works to a corner of the square where protesters have camped, stayed overnight or scheduled activities for the right to housing, and has also fed many homeless people from the vicinity of the site, meters from Avenida dos Aliados – and the House of Porto.
Early this morning, about 30 people stayed overnight in the square of D. João I without tents, after, at 00:15, the commissioner of the PSP of Porto Eduarda Fan have explained to the demonstrators that they would have to withdraw them, but have given the support to remain in public space, provided without making noise.
During the morning of Sunday, PSP dispersed, with batonada and using dogs, the 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 demonstrators did not follow orders, invoking the constitutional right to the demonstration.
According to the PSP, there were 33 injured and 33 detained for disobedience. In a statement, camp organizations reported dozens of wounded.
The Internal Administration Inspectorate (IGAI) opened a process following police interventions that took place on Sunday morning in Lisbon and Porto. Also the ombudsman asked the PSP, urgently, information about the police load on Sunday morning about the protesters.
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.