In an appeal to political leaders and governing parties, Timóteo Macedo, president of the association, stated, “We are calling on politicians and parties who have governed this country to address immigrant issues. Immigration is a global matter that demands a response, and the government must not allow the far-right to attack immigrants who provide such significant help to this country.”
The event at Martim Moniz is set to begin at 2:00 PM, after which participants will join a national workers’ demonstration.
“As we do every year, we will join the end of the demonstration that moves down Almirante Reis Avenue, but my hope is that one day we can be at the front line, as it is vital to showcase the importance of immigrants to Portugal’s labor fabric,” Macedo added.
In recent weeks, Solidariedade Imigrante has orchestrated demonstrations in Lisbon and Porto, with a similar action scheduled for São Teotónio, Odemira, on May 16.
“We will conduct a public action in the afternoon, at around 5:00 PM, aiming to raise awareness among the population and demonstrate that immigrants are being adversely affected by government policies,” he explained.
The southwest Alentejo region has become a hub for many immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, drawn to work in agricultural greenhouses, transforming the region’s demographics and revitalizing its economy while addressing substantial labor shortages faced by companies.
“We will show that immigrants here only want to work, seek their rights, and demonstrate that this is an important issue,” Macedo said, referencing the upcoming elections on May 18.
The association has critiqued the end of “manifestations of interest,” a legal resource that allowed for the regularization of foreigners arriving on tourist visas, as well as recent measures known as the “fast track for immigration,” which link visas to employment contracts as coordinated by business associations.
