The Palma encampment calls for mobilization ahead of Abascal's visit to Mallorca

PalmaThe housing encampment in Palma has called on individuals and anti-fascist groups to join the mobilization this Saturday in the face of threats from far-right groups, and especially in light of the Vox rally to be held at the top of the Palma wall with the participation of its leader, Santiago Abascal. The activists at Plaça d'Espanya are calling for a strengthened response to attempts to dismantle encampments throughout the Spanish State and believe it is time to join forces to defend the protest space.

"From the encampment at Plaça d'Espanya, we call for joining forces and gathering together tomorrow," they expressed through a message shared on social media. In this sense, they warn that "Vox and other fascist factions have been trying to dismantle encampments throughout the State," taking advantage of rallies during the election campaign, and assert that now it is time to "defend ourselves and articulate an anti-fascist response."

The call ends with an invitation to join the camp and resist together: "Let's join forces, all of us, for we are stronger; come to the encampment and let's resist together!" they proclaim. The message places the mobilization within the context of threats received from far-right groups and Abascal's visit to the Islands, which began this Friday in Menorca and continues this Saturday in Mallorca.

Police charges in Mahón against 400 protesters

The tension already became evident this Friday evening in Maó, where the National Police charged against some 400 protesters who had gathered to express their rejection of fascism, coinciding with Santiago Abascal's rally. The protest, called by members of the CGT union and two city entities, had begun at the Rochina park in the port, where the Vox event was initially scheduled to be held.

The far-right party, however, had announced a change of location 48 hours earlier and had moved the rally to the Plaça de la Conquesta. The modification coincided with the denial, by the Spanish Government Delegation, of the permit to hold the protest at the Plaça de la Constitució, located next to the space where Abascal's event was to be held. The protesters, who were initially about 200, kept adding participants and gathered in front of the deployed police device. With banners, whistles, and shouts against Abascal and the Police, they climbed the port stairs towards the city and pushed the officers back.

The protest ended up blocking both entrances to the Plaça de la Conquesta, where the Vox rally was being held. "We anti-fascists are here," shouted the participants, who demanded to "drive the fascists out of our neighborhoods." The tension increased with the arrival of several police vans and riot police officers. Finally, the National Police charged against the protesters and fired warning shots to disperse the gathering and allow Abascal and his entourage to leave the square. The incidents in Maó precede Abascal's rally this Saturday in Mallorca and reinforce the context of concern expressed by the Palma encampment, which has requested anti-fascist support in the face of threats from the far-right.