The president of the Federação Distrital do PS Porto, Nuno Araújo, has condemned the attack on volunteers by two men in Porto as a “cowardly act” while criticizing the “silence of the Government, the ambiguity of the PSD, and the ideological complicity of Chega with such discourses and practices”.
“These attacks, triggered merely by feeding vulnerable individuals, including migrants, and accompanied, according to reports, by Nazi salutes and hate speech, are absolutely unacceptable. They are a direct affront to democracy, human dignity, and the city of Porto,” Nuno Araújo stated.
On Thursday, it was reported that “two women who are part of volunteer teams distributing food aid to homeless individuals in Porto were insulted and assaulted with ‘shoves and punches’ by two men, who, after performing the Nazi salute, blamed them for the increase in immigrants in the country.”
On the same day, the Câmara Municipal do Porto condemned the attacks and announced a meeting to discuss the matter.
Today, PS/Porto emphasized that in an era where hate speech is gaining ground and the far-right thrives on fear and falsehoods, hesitance is not an option.
“This act is not isolated; it is part of an escalation aimed at dehumanizing, intimidating, and dividing. We cannot remain silent. We cannot downplay. We must shout out loud. The attempt to criminalize solidarity signifies a critical moment,” the socialists remarked.
Expressing “full solidarity with the victims and the organization that”, as noted by PS/Porto, “daily and courageously addresses the state’s deficiencies, ensuring a minimum of dignity for those in need”, the socialists assured that “the volunteers are not alone”.
“They are supported by all who believe in a just and inclusive society that does not give up on anyone,” Nuno Araújo affirmed, adding criticisms towards the Government and various political parties.
“It is intolerable that xenophobia and fascism advocacy continue to appear in Portugal. But even graver is the Government’s silence, the PSD’s ambiguity, and Chega’s ideological complicity with such discourses and practices. When unequivocal condemnation is absent, it provides cover. When hate is downplayed or whitewashed, it paves the way for violence,” reads the statement.
For the Federação Socialista, “there are no two sides in this debate”, as “one either stands with democracy, human dignity, and solidarity, or one fuels hate speech.”
Additionally, CDU Porto announced today in a statement that it will present a vote of censure at the next Câmara Municipal do Porto meeting “against the recent attacks suffered by volunteers from the organization Casa, an association conducting essential work supporting people in situations of social vulnerability.”
“The CDU asserts that this outrageous act of hate cannot be separated from the attack that day on Adérito Lopes, an actor from Grupo de Teatro a Barraca, by known far-right elements, nor from the assaults on immigrants in the Bonfim parish. It cannot be viewed apart from the provocations and assaults on Palestinian cause activists in May 2024 — as denounced in the Municipal Assembly — or from the unchecked propagation of hate speech in media and social networks,” stated the PCP/PEV coalition note.
Expressing “full solidarity and appreciation for the CASA Association, as well as its volunteers, for their commendable social solidarity work in Porto supporting the underprivileged”, CDU Porto extends that besides the censure vote at the municipality, it will “urge the Government, particularly the Ministry of Internal Affairs, overseeing the Polícia de Segurança Pública, to take appropriate actions to prevent the recurrence of such hate acts”.
On Thursday, PSP released a statement confirming the arrest of a 24-year-old man on Wednesday night for assaulting an officer when asked for identification, following alerts that two women, aged 45 and 50, were being “insulted and assaulted” at Largo da Lapa.
Brought before judicial authorities, the individual was subjected to weekly appearances before police authorities in his residential area, while another involved individual, a 27-year-old man, was identified at the scene, the Comando Metropolitano do Porto’s statement concluded.
