The PSP union opened a criminal case against the authors of cartoons and RTP

The National Union of Career Chiefs (SNCC) of the Public Security Police (PSP) opened a criminal case against the authors of the cartoon about police and racism, as well as against RTP for broadcasting it.

A cartoon by Cristina Sampaio, co-creator of the Spam Cartoon collective, which airs on RTP weekly, is called Shooting Career and shows a policeman shooting at a target with increasing intensity. At the end, targets are shown that have darkened due to the aggression of the police, which serves as a metaphor for the theme of racism in law enforcement agencies.

In a criminal complaint addressed to the Attorney General’s Office, the Lisbon Department of Investigations and Criminal Affairs, the Ombudsman’s Office and the PSP National Directorate, SNCC understands that “there is an unequivocal intent to vilify all police officers.” portraying them as xenophobes and racists.”

In the complaint, the union argues that “the protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens also implies respect for police professionals” and that “part of [o cartoon]besides slander, also suitable for inciting public order.”

Speaking to Lusa, António Matos, the union’s deputy vice president, said the cartoon was “offensive” to “an entire century-old corporation.”

At the same time, he noted, the fact that it is broadcast by a public TV channel aggravates the situation.

When asked about protecting freedom of speech and the press in a democracy, António Matos understands that this “must also have a limit.”

Contacted Lusa, illustrator André Carrillo, co-founder with João Paulo Cotrim of Spam Cartoon — the YouTube channel responsible for the 30-second microprogram of the same name that deals with the current situation through cartoons — thought the complaint “doesn’t make sense” , since the cartoon “has nothing to do with either the PSP or the Portuguese reality.”

“We have been working for RTP since 2017 and the cartoon is always made in the context of national and international current events, in this case it is international. This is due to an incident in France, the death of a young Frenchman at the hands of the police, which subsequently led to several riots throughout the country,” explained André Carrillo.

“The uniform of the shooting character is not from the PSP, it is not identified with any insignia of the PSP or any of the Portuguese security forces,” stressed André Carrillo.

In turn, an official RTP source told Lusa that “Spam Cartoon is a free discussion of current national and international events that RTP has been holding since 2017,” sponsored by “some of the most famous Portuguese cartoonists.”

“Under no circumstances did this serve as an incitement to violence against anyone. The values ​​of freedom of speech and opinion are fundamental to the democracy and public service of the RTP,” the TV channel emphasized.