Lisbon Camp accuses Nuno Melo of "xenophobic insinuation"

The Acampada de Lisboa criticized Defense Minister Nuno Melo's comments regarding the accents of housing protesters, labeling them as xenophobic insinuations. They emphasized that housing is a right and that protests should not be tied to nationality or appearance. The movement linked the persecution of migrants to the repression of housing rights activists, accusing the government of using intimidation and xenophobic rhetoric to silence dissent. Melo's remarks, made during an interview, questioned whether the accents of some protesters indicated that the housing crisis was linked to immigration issues. Protests against the housing crisis began in Porto and spread to Lisbon, leading to police interventions and injuries among demonstrators and officers. Protesters are demanding changes to rental laws and affordable housing measures.