The second signal to start what would later be called Carnation Revolution was when Rádio Renascença broadcast "Grândola, Vila Morena" by José Afonso, at 12:20 a.m. on 25 April 1974. This song speaks of the fraternity among the people of Grândola,

a town in the Alentejo region of Portugal. It became a musical symbol of the Carnation Revolution and of the beginning of democracy in Portugal. Today continues to be sung in protest or in commemoration at public events. José Afonso, also known as Zeca Afonso among other singers

and poets, used his music to fight against Salazar's fascist regime called Estado Novo.
Music was used as a weapon, as a beacon of hope, the poetry in his lyrics, his songs resonate today in the minds and hearts of many Portuguese as if they had been written just yesterday.

Just like many of the poetry written on those days, and subsequent years, it still has a profound effect on us, like this beautiful poem by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, one of our greatest poetess.

"This is the dawn I expected
All day a clean start,
Where we emerge from night and silence,
And free we inhabit the substance of time.”

Zeca Afonso was detained at the prison in Caxias in April 1973 where he stayed until the end of May. There he wrote several song-poems that would be part of the album Venham Mais Cinco (Bring another five), his last album produced before the revolution took place, it was recorded

in Paris in October of 1973. When the record was published in Portugal it was censored by the the PIDE or International and State Defence Police, a brutal repressive secret police, Salazar's henchmen, who arrested and tortured political dissidents and civilians alike.

Murdering dozens innocents as well. Outrageously, justice was never served, none of them served jail time. Many are still alive.

Today even though Portugal is a democratic country with a left leaning government, fascists, far-right kids mimicking the America alt-right and saudosistas (those who miss Salazar even though most didn't actually live those times of terror and fear & are ignorant of our History)

are gradually using social media, albeit anonymously like cowards, plus a couple media outlets to misinform, change historical narratives and cause mayhem,

just like we see in other countries where the far right populist and racist demagoguery have won a space in media discourse and even elections.

So, for all who died, who were tortured, lived in fear, in poverty, in terror, died in a senseless and criminal colonial war (Ultramar/Overseas War) where many young Portuguese men as well as many African civilians died; in their honour as bearers of this past and history,

now more than ever is important to commemorate, remember the freedoms and democracy that we won on 25 April 1974.

This video shows some of the images of that day, while Zeca Afonso's Grândola Vila Morena can be heard.