Police violence on Roma community at Vila Verde

Alert DateSeptember 24, 2012 Country: Portugal Address: vila de prado, vila verde, braga, portugal General Type: Racist violence, Racist discourse, Discrimination, Institutional discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-roma/zinghanophobia, Inter-ethnic, Anti-roma/ romaphobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers, National minorities Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Portuguese
Victims Gender Female, Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 30
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Portuguese
Perpetrator Gender Male, N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 80
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

The anti-racist association SOS Racismo [SOS Racism] published a press release where the organization condemns the police intervention at the location of Vila de Prado, at Vila Verde in Braga district on the 24th September 2012. According to SOS Racism that visited the place after the events, the population  (thirty persons) claimed and exhibited evidences of improper conduct by police forces. SOS was told that late in the afternoon around eighty policemen started an operation in that Roma neighbourhood, making use of extreme violence and without exhibiting or delivering any mandate or document. Use of tasers after water hosing detainees; indiscriminate searches including publicly undressing of a woman before male agents; physical aggressions using fists, batons, knifes and also firearms with rubber bullets before their children’s and humiliation and verbal aggression with explicit racist content, are some of the violent acts reported.

SOS Racism demands investigation of these facts, claiming that the aggressions were evident and are well documented at the S. Marcos Hospital in Braga. It is also strange that no accusation was made to the detainees, except one.  SOS concludes that this operation reveals a disproportionate use of force and an obvious discrimination of a Roma community.

 

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