Portugal: protests after man shot dead by police
Odair Moniz, a Portuguese citizen of African origin, was shot dead by a police officer in Lisbon on 21 October under circumstances that remain unclear. The incident triggered several days of unrest and rioting. On Saturday there were parallel marches in solidarity with the victim on the one hand and by the right-wing party Chega, which came out in defence of the police, on the other. Commentators take a look at the two demonstrations.
Police don't need the screeching from the right
All Chega is interested in is its own political message, writes Correio da Manhã:
“André Ventura loves to show off or invoke the constitution. He should know that the questioning of the PSP's actions is not the result of a sinister left-wing or other conspiracy against the police. His professed love of the constitution means that he must know that policing means carrying out constitutionally enshrined and therefore restricted duties. He will know that the use of force and firearms is reserved for extreme cases. ... The police have the state on their side, they don't need Chega and its screeching.”
More justice through peaceful means
By contrast, Saturday's march of solidarity with the victim was exemplary, Público writes:
“The demonstration convened by the Vida Justa movement, which was only recently launched in the neighbourhoods that are referred to as peripheral, got its demands right: better living conditions, that justice be done in the case of Odair Moniz, a discussion of the actions of the security forces. The demonstration was the right response because it was peaceful; because it gave a voice to those who wanted to speak but who normally have no platform to do so; because it brought together many people who do not live in these neighbourhoods but want to show solidarity with those who do.”