“Thanks to the 25th of April, my parents were able to return to Portugal.” Avenida da Liberdade also dressed up as young people during the 50th anniversary of the revolution – from the youngest to the oldest

We joined the 50th anniversary march of the 25th of April, this Thursday, and heard from 12 young Portuguese people who helped honor Freedom Day alongside those who lived it

“April 25th always, fascism never again”, we heard this chant from the mouth of a very small child sitting on his father’s shoulders, as we walked along Avenida da Liberdade, in Lisbon, this Thursday. It wasn’t just older people who took to the streets to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, which many of them experienced firsthand, but younger people were also present – and in large numbers. Some brought their family, others their friends and there were those who came alone. On one side and the other, children, teenagers and young adults with their fists raised reinforced this caravan of Portuguese (and beyond) that filled the heart of the capital from Praça do Marquês de Pombal to Rossio.

CNN Portugal followed the festivities that have been taking place for five decades on this date and witnessed the flood that was already noticeable at 2:00 pm, an hour before the start of the usual commemorative march. As several different groups prepared themselves, from partisans to non-partisans, others waited sitting on the sidewalk or in the grass and entertained themselves with photographs and conversations. Among them was Isadora Bastos, 28 years old, practically hidden by a huge Portuguese/European flag that she carried on her back.

Came from Brussels to celebrate the 25th of April

The moment we cross paths, Isadora tells us that her family is from the North, but she was born in Brussels, Belgium. She arrived in Portugal a week ago to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April on Avenida da Liberdade, exactly a decade after having made the same trip for the 40th anniversary of this historic event. “If April 25th hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be here,” she shares. “My mother left the country to work in European institutions and before that this would not have been possible.”

He admits, however, some fear regarding issues that have been debated again, such as the criminalization of abortion, both in Portugal and in Belgium, but emphasizes that “we are still far from being able to be afraid” of losing the privileges that April provided. He praises the stance of the Livre party and its spokesperson Rui Tavares as symbols of freedom: “They have left me very surprised since their appearance.”

First time with the carnation in my hand

“For me, freedom is not being afraid to say what we think and taking responsibility for our actions”, says Miguel Brito, 16 years old, with conviction, at that same Marquês de Pombal roundabout. We found him talking to his friends Constança Encarnação and Daniela Freire, both 15 years old, with blackheads on their chests and in their hair: “Remember the revolution”. They study together in Lisbon and it is the first time they take to the streets to celebrate the 25th of April, at a time when they are starting to gain more political interest. “It made perfect sense to come and celebrate freedom, especially 50 years”, continues the boy.

Constança’s parents also came. “They’re there somewhere”, she points out smiling. Miguel’s family is not present, but they usually come every year: “They were the ones who instilled this in me, without the 25th of April we would never be able to express our values ​​and rights”. Still, the three agree that “a lot still needs to be corrected”, particularly in education. Constança suggests that “they should invest a little more”, Miguel considers that there is a lack of “sufficient preparation for the future”, which leads “many young people to emigrate”.

When you’re little, you twist the cucumber

Matilde, Xavier, Vasco and Laura are between 8 and 10 years old and are already used to accompanying their parents on the traditional march along Avenida da Liberdade. The enthusiasm of the four easily overshadows the adults around them, after all it is those children’s “favorite holiday”. “The worst thing is having to wait”, complains Vasco. And the best? We asked him. “Being with my friends and screaming”, laughs. The rest agree and Matilde intervenes: “It’s a very important day, because it’s 50 years of freedom.”

“Freedom of expression” and “saying what we want” is what this date means for the small group. In addition to the carnation, they also associate it with the symbols of “peace”, the “white dove” and even “cannons”.

Family returned after the revolution

Érica, 22 years old, came to celebrate April 25th for the first time in Lisbon as it was her 50th birthday. Until then, she marked the date with her family in Almada, where she lives. She reveals that “thanks to the carnation revolution” her parents, who were emigrating to Canada, managed to return to Portugal. Next to her, Matias, 22 years old, confesses that he hasn’t been down the Avenue since 2021, but this time “it’s a more special occasion”, and he brought his friends with him. He highlights the songs of artists such as Zeca Afonso, José Mário Branco and Sérgio Godinho as “the image of freedom”. Érica chooses the color red, which she refers to the carnation and the “revolution”.

Despite the benefits that the 25th of April brought them, they express concern about the growth of the right in the country. They don’t know if their freedoms will be “a constant” in their lives, “so while they are they must be supported”. In relation to the Housing and Health sectors, Érica considers it “very scary that we won’t have these opportunities in a few years”.

Here or there, the date is celebrated everywhere

Carolina Milhanas is 23 years old and is a singer and songwriter. She says that without 25 de Abril she would not be able to have the career she has today, but she is worried about the “50 far-right deputies” who arrived in Parliament this year. Alongside her friends, the young woman tells CNN Portugal that she usually celebrates this historic date in Grândola or Lisbon, having chosen her 50th birthday to go down Avenida this Thursday.

In the same group, Catarina Froes, 22 years old, says that the 25th of April is not just celebrated on the street, but also in everyday life and therefore does not discriminate against those who do not come to march to Rossio. But “our freedom is in danger”, warns the young woman, highlighting the importance of marking the April Revolution today, taking into account the wars that are taking place.