Subjective and symbolic disputes in the fight for the right to the city: Actions of the collective Stop Despejos for resistance of the 6 de Maio neighbourhood in Lisbon

This article draws from action research carried out with the collective Stop Despejos in the city of Lisbon from 2018 to the beginning of 2019. This period marks a time of growth in the real estate market, associated with international visibility of the metropolis. Cities are promoted globally in a picture-postcard manner, in line with the strategies of international financial capitalism, driving a rapid increase in the price of land, housing, and living costs. Stop Despejos was formed during this period, with the purpose of exposing the increasing evictions in the city. The article explores the actions carried out with the collective in the neighbourhood of 6 de Maio, Greater Lisbon, and analyses the strategies that consisted of adapting methods of community mobilisation previously used in the Vila Autódromo neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. These strategies focused on the subjective impacts of displacement.