Cort demands again the eviction of the housing encampment in Palma after the complaint for sexual harassment

PalmaPalma City Council has once again demanded that the Spanish government Delegation in the Balearic Islands to evict the encampment for the right to housing in Plaça d'Espanya after the feminist collective Flama denounced the presence, according to their version, of “sexist behaviors and attitudes” and “situations of sexual harassment” within the framework of the protest.

The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, has demanded that the Government delegate, Alfonso Rodríguez, act “immediately” and has described as “extremely serious” the accusations made public by Flama. Cort considers that these complaints make it “even more necessary” for the Government Delegation to intervene.

The City Council had previously requested the eviction of the encampment, which has been held in Plaça d'Espanya since the early hours of September 29. Cort argues that the period for the notified demonstration had expired and that the current situation would not seem to fit within that specific call.

The City Council ensures that it respects the right to assembly and demonstration, but maintains that it must be exercised in accordance with regulations and with guarantees of safety, coexistence, and protection of individuals. It also points out that the occupation of the square has been hindering municipal cleaning, maintenance, and conservation tasks for more than a week. In its initial request, however, they claimed that they had to evict them because "they did not have a permit and their deadline had expired," a fact that the Delegation denied and contradicted.

The encampment says it has expelled some people from it

Meanwhile, the encampment has reacted to Flama's complaint with an internal assembly in which, according to the feminist collective itself, the affected individuals have exposed the situations that allegedly took place. Based on this assembly, several measures have been agreed upon to try to ensure that the protest is a space "safe and free from any form of harassment, sexism, LGTBIphobia and violence".

Among the announced measures is the removal from the space of individuals whose presence had generated situations of conflict or insecurity. It has also been proposed to develop a prevention and action protocol regarding situations of harassment, sexism and other violence. The encampment has also announced the creation of an LGTBI and care reference point and ensures that public apologies have been made for certain attitudes and comments that had generated discomfort.

Flama explains that, after its initial complaint, the situation has evolved following dialogue within the encampment and the decisions made in the assembly. The collective maintains that it is now waiting to see how the agreed-upon measures are implemented and whether the affected individuals can feel safe.

Flama withdraws from the organization

Flama has announced its withdrawal from organic participation in the organization of the encampment following an internal process of debate and reflection. The collective stated that it had detected “sexist behaviors and attitudes” and “situations of sexual harassment” which, in its view, contradicted the principles of mutual care that should govern the space.

The group also explained that there are minors among its membership and that the protection and safety of its members was a priority so as not to expose them to “hostile or unsafe spaces”.

Flama's withdrawal, however, does not imply that it is abandoning the fight for the right to housing. The collective remarked that it will continue to participate in the social movement and that its criticism is directed at the specific dynamics of the encampment's operation.

In its first statement, Flama did not specify which cases of harassment it was denouncing nor did it identify the people to whom it attributed these behaviors. The accusations, therefore, correspond to the collective's account and have not been judicially proven. The encampment, for its part, now defends that it has adopted measures following the situations raised and that it will continue to evaluate their implementation.

Cort offers support to Flama

The City Council has made its services available to the members of Flama so that they can go to the Family and Women's Care Unit (UFAM) and receive support and accompaniment regarding the situations they have made public.

The protest at the Plaza de España began on September 29, following the mobilization in defense of the right to housing organized in Palma, and during the following days, tents and participants have been added. The encampment has been organized through assemblies and working groups and is part of the mobilization for the right to housing that has spread to various parts of the State.