Urban artist Bordalo II installed an art piece on Friday in Rossio, Lisbon, placing a tent marked “POLÍCIA” where housing rights protesters had camped in recent weeks. The work was quickly removed by police.
The installation featured a blue and white tent, riot-unit protective gear and a wheelbarrow loaded with stones, along with an altered pedestrian sign. Accompanied by the line “Whoever wants to fuel violence, throw the first stone,” the artist aimed to shift attention from the protesters’ tents to police conduct, and to reaffirm housing as a fundamental right.
The piece follows police operations to remove tents set up by the “Casa para Viver” movement. Organisers reported violence and injuries, while the police said the action was proportionate. The dispute remains open, with activists and police offering opposing accounts.