The 25th of April marks the beginning of democracy, freedom, and equality. It celebrates the military coup that transformed into a peaceful revolution through the spontaneous, total, and free support of the people, overthrowing the authoritarian, oppressive, and regressive regime that had governed the country for nearly half a century. In 2026, fifty-two years after that founding moment, detractors of the 25th of April—and the values it represents—have become vocal. These heralds of historical revisionism, based on anti-democratic ideological prejudices and often falsehoods, use the very freedom that April gave us to attack freedom itself, benefiting from the tolerance that is the core of Democracy's ethical superiority. These radical and anti-democratic populist politicians demand constant vigilance and proactivity from democrats in defending freedom and equality. However, they are not alone; self-proclaimed moderates who dilute the historical and political significance of the 25th of April also contribute to diminishing this seminal moment. Unfortunately, this was evident in the commemorations organised by the Government at the Prime Minister's official residence and by the Lisbon City Council. In São Bento, there was a celebration of theatre, including a fitting tribute to Ruy de Carvalho, but the 25th of April was absent—an unforgivable omission, especially when democratic values are under threat. In Lisbon, the City Council and EGEAC organised no institutional commemoration of the 25th of April, under the pretext of integrating it into the so-called 'Spring Festivals,' which celebrate 'the return of the sun, flowers, good spirits, and the desire to go out and do things with friends.' The complete erasure of the 25th of April in this context is symptomatic of the indifference with which the City government views the Revolution that restored our democracy and freedom, and which also created autonomous and democratic local government. Both celebrations (or their omission) contrast with the President of the Republic's actions in Belém, where he opened the Palace gardens with a programme alluding to the anniversary. However, the indifference of the Government and the Lisbon City Council was met with a response in the streets. The tens of thousands of people, including many young people, who marched for hours along Avenida da Liberdade, from Marquês de Pombal to Rossio, demonstrated that the 25th of April is alive where it matters most: in all of us, the people. The same people who, in 1974, joined the military to peacefully, with joy, altruism, and generosity, take the reins of a democratic, free, fair, and solidary future into their own hands. Note: The speeches at the 25th of April ceremony in the Assembly of the Republic brought the issue of transparency and political scrutiny into heated debate. In an era of populism, simplistic and caricatured approaches are dangerous and counterproductive. The President of the Republic's statement remains lapidary: 'Suspicion grows in opacity.'