Portuguese prosecutors this week opened an investigation file for alleged incitement to hatred into the statements of the leader of the far-right Chega party, the parliamentary leader and a party adviser after the police shot dead a black man in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Lisbon.
In the early hours of October 21, Odair Moniz, 43, was driving in his car in the Damaia district, a neighborhood a few kilometers from Lisbon known for the strong presence of African communities. He apparently walked a solid line and police ordered him to stop, but he did not obey and a chase began. Odair crashed into several cars before stopping and exiting the vehicle. The police did not handcuff the fugitive and fired into the air and into the torso of Odair, who died instantly.
The 27-year-old officer who shot the Cape Verdean citizen ended up justifying his behavior with an alleged attempted knife attack, which the video images do not show.
In these modest neighborhoods on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital, a climate of tension between residents and security forces is common. The absence of public policies, the growing stigma against immigrant communities and the phenomena of radicalization within the police have created a sort of “perfect storm”.
After the death of Odair Moniz, tension intensified in some neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city, with a wave of riots that destroyed cars, trash cans and buses – one of which was attacked in Molotov cocktail by the driver, who today killed him. He remains “seriously” injured in hospital – set on fire in protest against the police action which cost the Cape Verdean his life. Last Sunday, the funeral took place and dozens of family, friends and neighbors gathered to say goodbye, amid pain and outrage.
This affair has relaunched the debate on racism and police violence in the country. “The racist extreme right is undeniably infiltrated within the police,” says the SOS Racisme association. “The deaths of black people at the hands of the police raise the greatest concerns about the true motivations” of the police, notes the organization.
Despite the contested police action, Chega leader André Ventura was quick to publicly “thank” the officer who shot Moniz “for the work he did.” “We must reward him and not make him an accused, threaten to prosecute him or arrest him,” he added. “All [que hay que destacar es que Odair Moniz] “He tried to stab police officers, he was running from them and he was going to commit crimes, in all likelihood.” This is not the first time that Ventura, whose party quadrupled the number of seats in the March 10 elections, has expressed xenophobic and racist views.
“This has no place in a democracy”
Last Monday, a group of citizens filed a criminal complaint with the Portuguese Public Prosecutor’s Office, in which they claim that “all the accusations [de Ventura] They were false, invented and intended only to inflame social feelings, causing social unrest, anger, resentment and violence. “Walking a police action which resulted in the loss of a human life is obviously an apology for a crime”, which is “sanctioned by the Penal Code”, they add.
The complaint – promoted by lawyers, left-wing analysts, professors, two former socialist ministers and cultural figures – was backed by a petition that already has more than 130,000 signatures, one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the country. María Escaja, one of the promoters of the petition, explains to elDiario.es that this mobilization shows that “not everything is happening” because “there is a Constitution and a Penal Code that must be respected” and “the incitement to hatred and crime does not matter.” “place in a democracy”.
“All police officers are not racist or radicalized,” estimates Escaja, who underlines the paradox according to which Chega is “the first to endanger the security forces” when “he exploits them without really worrying about their working conditions “.
The ultra party has long taken advantage of the informal structures of the security forces to increase its influence within these organizations. The best known case is that of Movimento Zero, an inorganic group born in response to the accusation of Public Security agents for having arrested and assaulted young black men in 2015 at the Alfragide police station, in the suburbs of Lisbon, without any justification. . Ventura wore Movimento Zero bracelets and was always present at police protests.
In addition to Ventura’s statements, the party’s parliamentary leader, Pedro Pinto, is also in the crosshairs of criminal action for having declared, during a debate on the public news channel RTP3: “Maybe if [la policía] If he shot more to kill, the country would be more in order. Chega’s parliamentary advisor is also accused of inciting hatred for writing on the social network
Last Saturday, two demonstrations were called at the same time: one against racism in the police, demanding “justice” for the death of Odair Moniz, and another in defense of the police, promoted by Chega. The ultra party’s demonstration was less attended, demonstrating the difficulties of the far right in mobilizing outside of social networks.
