Madrid housing protest: bishops back camp, reject violence

Madrid’s Puerta del Sol housing camp gets backing for its right to protest on Thursday, but Spain’s bishops’ spokesman says violence has no place there. Protesters are camping at the square in Madrid after Maricarmen’s eviction.

A right to protest, without violence

Francisco César García Magán, spokesman for the Spanish Episcopal Conference, said after a meeting of the bishops’ body that the right to demonstrate is protected by the constitution. Protesters must also respect the rights of neighbours and shopkeepers, he said.

García Magán said he had seen an account online of an attack on a journalist at the camp in which the journalist’s camera was smashed. He urged protesters to rule out violence.

A wider housing problem

García Magán called Maricarmen’s eviction regrettable, but said many other people have been evicted elsewhere in Spain. He also pointed to the shortage of housing.

The Spanish Congress is due to vote on government decrees on Friday. García Magán warned against treating the housing problem with a temporary fix. He called instead for a broader housing policy and an agreement among all political parties.

Topics: Protests

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com