Green Paint Attack on IL Leader Rui Rocha During Lisbon Rally Sparks Debate on Freedom and Activism

In a startling incident during a Lisbon rally, Rui Rocha, the leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL), was splashed with green paint by two young activists. The activists, who carried a sign reading 'for our species not to go extinct, end fossil by 2030', interrupted Rocha's speech to make a bold statement against fossil fuels.

After a brief exchange where Rocha greeted the activists, one of them sprayed green paint on his face and back. The IL team quickly removed the duo from the stage. Demonstrating resilience, Rocha continued his speech with his face covered in green paint, emphasizing the importance of freedom and dialogue. "This is the house of freedom, where everyone has the right to speak, but we also have the right to speak and to make our choices," he declared.

The interruption occurred as Rocha was sharing his life story, highlighting his career built on merit, competence, rigor, and integrity. Undeterred by the incident, he used the moment to reinforce his message of perseverance, stating, "And these who appeared here are not even the heaviest, I've had many more adversities in my life that I've overcome." His remarks were met with applause from IL members.