The civic action was organized in reaction to the police operation carried out on Thursday on Rua do Benformoso
More than a hundred people marched along Rua do Benformoso in Martim Moniz, Lisbon, this Saturday, remembering the values of April in solidarity with the immigrant population living in the area.
The civic action was organized in reaction to the police operation carried out on Thursday in Martim Moniz, condemned by several political parties and human rights organizations.
Distributing carnations of different colors, people from various sectors of society, including representatives of the PS, BE, PCP and Livre, explained the significance of these flowers for Portuguese democracy.
Residents and traders in the area welcomed the gesture with joy and highlighted the friendliness and hospitality of the Portuguese population in general.
Many immigrants live and work in the area, mainly from the Asian subcontinent.
Thursday's police operation resulted in the arrest of two people and the seizure of almost 4,000 euros in cash, batons, documents, a knife, a mobile phone and a hundred counterfeit items.
The police action -- which involved placing dozens of people against the wall, with their hands in the air, to be searched -- was denounced in images shared on social media, which generated several criticisms and accusations of abuse of power.