Mallorca: around twenty sleep in Palma square after clearance

Around twenty people sleep in Plaza de España in Palma, Mallorca, on the night into Friday without tents, a day after Palma City Council orders their housing protest cleared. Members of the housing campaign Acampada por la Vivienda say they have permission to remain and are protected by the right to assemble.

The protesters returned at about 19.00 on Thursday. Heavy rain drove their meeting under the arcades of Olivar market. After discussing the general strike planned for 11 November, they went back to the square, read a statement and shared a meal. Several police patrols were there as they tried to sleep.

According to the protesters, officers told them they would have to stay standing to claim the right to assemble, rather than sit or lie on the ground. The group sees this as another attempt by the council to pressure them and says the Government Delegation also supports their protest.

The council had removed the pallets marking out their protest area during the clearance. The protesters say their new camp has no boundary or barriers. At a meeting early on Friday, they decided to stay in the square.

Topics: Protests · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com