Housing protests return to Lisbon and Porto after violent police crackdown

Protests for housing rights will return to Lisbon and Porto today, hours after police violently dispersed overnight encampments, leaving multiple injured and detained. Organizers are calling for solidarity and resistance against what they describe as state repression. The Lisbon encampment, using the slogan "More houses, less baton!", has called a 5 p.m. gathering at Praça D. Pedro IV, where police used batons, rubber bullets, and dogs. The Porto group will meet at 7 p.m. as usual, vowing to stay until demands are met. Protesters seek to reverse the new rental law, halt demolitions and evictions, and increase public housing. Police reported 11 injured and 31 detained across both cities. Amnesty International condemned the force as "excessive and disproportionate" and called for an investigation. The new rental law, approved with support from PSD, IL, and CDS-PP, introduces more flexible contracts and faster evictions.