A small crowd gathered in Dublin city centre today for a fervent protest demanding justice and safety for migrant delivery workers, sparked by the brutal assault on Brazilian cyclist André Oliveira last month. The 26-yr-old Deliveroo rider was ambushed on November 24 while cycling along the Royal Canal Way in Phibsboro, beaten with a wooden plank by a group of laughing teenagers who filmed the attack before stealing his bike and phone.
Oliveira, who required emergency brain surgery at Mater Hospital, has become a symbol of the rising tide of violence targeting Brazil’s large community of gig economy workers in Ireland. “We cycle through danger every night, but enough is enough,” said organizer Maria Santos, a fellow Brazilian rider. Protesters, waving Brazilian flags and signs reading “Riders’ Lives Matter,” marched from O’Connell Street to the Dáil, blocking traffic and chanting for stricter hate crime laws.
Gardaà monitored the peaceful rally, which drew support from unions and anti-racism groups. A GoFundMe for Oliveira has raised over €50,000, highlighting community outrage. As dusk fell, speakers urged government action amid a spate of similar incidents. “Dublin welcomed us; now protect us,” one banner pleaded. The protest underscores Ireland’s struggle with xenophobia, echoing 2023 riots, but today’s unity offers hope for change.
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