Portugal: Protests to be held in Lisbon and Porto on June 9 /update 1

Event

Protests in solidarity with events in the US are reportedly planned in Lisbon and Porto on the evening of Tuesday, June 9. Demonstrators are expected to gather at 18:00 (local time) in Lisbon's Praça Martim Moniz, and between 18:30 and 21:30 on Avenida Das Forças Armadas, near the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, and Avenida de França, near the Consulate of Brazil in Porto. A heightened security presence is to be expected in the vicinity of the protests.

Further demonstrations are likely in the near-term.

Context

George Floyd died while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. The four arresting police officers were subsequently fired, and one has since been charged with murder. Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters gathered on May 26 to denounce the death and actions of the police officers. Clashes ensued between protesters and riot police; with demonstrators throwing bricks and projectiles at police and police property, and police responding with tear gas and rubber bullets as they attempted to disperse the crowds. Protests have since spread to a number of cities across the US, with solidarity protests taking place throughout the world.

Advice

Those in Lisbon are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.