“We know what fascism is… that’s what is happening”
Hundreds of Americans resident in Portugal demonstrated in Lisbon today against the policies of Donald Trump.
Hours after the US president chose to go golfing instead of receive the bodies of four serviceman who lost their lives on a NATO mission in LIthuania, several hundred Americans rallied to the call of Democrat Caryl Hallberg, 73, a life-long political activist who chose Portugal as her home after four years travelling through Europe.
She told Lusa that he believes it is possible to combat Donald Trump’s policies from outside the country, together with Americans inside who feel “outraged by the current drift”.
Ever since the ‘Liberation Day’ announcement by Mr Trump in the White House Rose Garden, markets have been tumbling. This has sent the savings of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of ‘middle Americans’ into a flat spin. As broadcasters have explained, many US citizens plan their retirements on a system, known in the US as 401(k), which involves the buying of shares, which have now plummeted. Parents also often put aside money for their children’s education in similar investments plans. These are all now looking extremely vulnerable. It does not help that Donald Trump posted on social media last night: “MY POLICIES WILL NEVER CHANGE (…) ONLY THE WEAK WILL FAIL.”
“We know what fascism is and that’s what is happening,” Hallberg has told Lusa, expressing concerns about effects on pensions, which she said are already affecting some of her countrymen and women who have chosen to live in Portugal.
In the wider context, Caryl Hallberg sees the US tariffs as “destroying trade”, and causing a devaluation of the dollar – again something that will almost certainly affect Americans living in Europe, or thinking of doing so.
“Trump is trying to take away rights on multiple levels”, she said – and thus the call to arms, which saw not only retired US residents take to the streets, but younger working age citizens, who are being equally affected, and are equally outraged .
Posters proclaimed “Hands Off”, in reference to the Constitution and American Civil Rights, and “I will not be silent”.
Jay Conboy, 72, was also among demonstrators today. An academic, married to a Portuguese, he has worked with Portuguese universities “almost all” his life, he told Lusa. “I feel outraged by what (Trump) is doing to the world economy; by making friends with enemies like Putin; by the way he is ignoring the Constitution. He is causing so much chaos – and it is all about power!”
Sitting by the statue of D. José I, in Praça do Comércio, former journalist from Virginia, Gail Kent, who now lives in Alcobaça, held a poster with a photo of billionaire businessman Elon Musk – another of those targeted in the demonstration – which read: “My father fought the Nazis in Europe, 80 years ago”.
She told Lusa that “in World War II, my father and uncles fought against Germany. They were Republicans, but I don’t believe they supported this man (…) These people are fascists. It’s horrible; they’re taking away our rights.”
And due to these residents’ attention to Portuguese history, some were holding carnations, alluding to the common ground shared with Portugal: “What America needs, Portugal knows”, said one of the placards.
Peaceful demonstrations like these will continue, vows Hallberg: “We will follow the Portuguese example”. ND
Source material: LUSA
