Three activists removed by police in handcuffs
The difference between traffic blockades attempted by climate activists in Portugal and those in cities like London could hardly be greater. In London, climate activists in the past have allowed to create unmitigated chaos; police have even arrested motorists and/ or members of the public who try to remove the people blocking roads. Here, drivers think nothing of dragging activists by their clothes to the side of the road, and then continuing their journeys before the manhandled protestors can get back into position.
Today, in Rua da Escola Politécnica it was another moment for Portuguese popular justice. Activists sat in the middle of the road, wearing reflective jackets and carrying a banner, only to be forcibly removed by a furious motorist while passers-by egged his reaction on, advising other drivers to “drive over them!”
As a result, the ‘chaos’ was short-lived, and three more young climate activists were carted off to a Lisbon police station in handcuffs after PSP police agents arrived.
The spokesperson for this latest episode, Leonor Canada, told Lusa that the action was one of “radical democracy” and that there was to be “no giving up in respect of the climate crisis”.
The movement will be continuing with “disruptive actions”, she said, insisting that whatever happens after the elections tomorrow, “the climate crisis is not going to be tackled”.
Yesterday (International Women’s Day) saw two activists arrested after breaking a window at one of the Santander bank outlets in Lisbon.
As of the end of February, public prosecutors had already opened 32 cases against climate activists from various connected groups. The cases involve crimes of disobedience, resistance and coercion, criminal damage and attack on road transport.
Source material: LUSA
