This afternoon there were several large street protests in Portugal taking place in different cities at the same time. In Lisbon, thousands of people were protesting at Praça de Espanha against the recent austerity measures, and others that were already announced for the next year. This public demonstration was independent from any political party or trade union. It was summoned by the cultural sector. Artists volunteered to play, sing, dance, and read poetry as a means of protest. The message was “if you destroy Culture, you destroy a people’s soul…” People protested against government and troika and told they should leave now “RUA”! "The budget is not going to be approved this time, we are not afraid anymore, we AWOKE”. The organization declared to be in solidarity with the Global Noise Movement and this is the first stage of a three day demonstration ending on Monday with a siege to the Parliament.