More than 1,300 people, supported by around 100 collectives, have signed a public letter addressed to various political figures and institutions in Portugal, calling for concrete actions to stop the growing hate speech against immigrants. The letter was sent on Wednesday and is addressed to the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and the President of 
the Constitutional Court, João Caupers, among other institutional leaders.
The appeal comes amid growing tensions over immigration in Portugal, exacerbated by two planned anti-immigration demonstrations. The first, organised by the Chega party, is scheduled for 21 September in Lisbon. The second, organised by the neo-Nazi group 1143, will take place in Guimarães on 5 October. These events have raised concerns about the impact that hate speech and actions can have on Portuguese society.
Letter calls for institutional intervention
The letter, which Público newspaper had access to, was drafted by the Joint Action Group against Racism and Xenophobia and highlights the responsibility of public entities in containing the rise of hatred against immigrants and minorities. The signatories state that the institutions involved “have a duty to act to stop the rise of hatred that is occurring” and advocate the creation of mechanisms that improve the living conditions of all people, including immigrants, ensuring access to fundamental rights such as health, education, justice and affordable housing.
The letter stresses the urgent need for public and political institutions to take a clear stance on immigration in Portugal. “Is it or is it not essential for Portuguese society to promote better and universal public education, affordable housing, better quality transport, and a quality healthcare system that serves all immigrant communities on an equal footing with the Portuguese population?”, the signatories ask, calling for an assertive response from those responsible.
The letter also denounces the growing activity of extremist groups, some of which have links to the Chega party, and accuses them of spreading racist, xenophobic and Islamophobic hate speech. Among the groups mentioned are Chega, Grupo 1143, Habeas Corpus and Reconquista, which, according to the signatories, operate “in the shadows” and are composed of “sufficient elements to unleash racist hatred”. These groups are accused of directing attacks on the most vulnerable communities, invading public spaces and assaulting people at events related to LGBTQI+ rights and gender identities.
The Chega party is particularly targeted in the letter, being accused of “abusively associating immigration with crime, inciting hatred, sowing fear and divisions, based on lies that serve to fuel racist, xenophobic and Islamophobic hatred”. The signatories demand that the Portuguese State respond to these accusations and explain how it has allowed racist and xenophobic demonstrations to occur on national territory, questioning whether these actions are compatible with the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic and the criminal law in force.
International example and European context
The signatories also use international examples to highlight the gravity of the situation, citing the case of the United Kingdom, where hate speech has served as a “fuse for armed, violent gangs to destroy, humiliate, intimidate and dehumanize people”. This warning is used to highlight the risks of a similar escalation in Portugal, if the authorities do not intervene quickly.
In response to this climate of growing tension, the Black Movement announced the holding of an anti-racist march in Lisbon, also scheduled for September 21. The “Marxa Cabral – against fascism, xenophobia and neocolonialism”, which pays tribute to the hero of the liberation struggles Amílcar Cabral, aims to mobilize society against racism and discrimination in all its forms. This demonstration will be accompanied by a manifesto signed by several personalities and politicians, calling for the participation of all those who oppose hatred and intolerance.