All Santa Maria parties reject the "criminalization" of activists and condemn the LGTBI-phobic aggression

PalmaThe plenary session of the Santa Maria City Council approved this Thursday unanimously a motion in which it expresses its rejection of the "criminalization" of peaceful social protest actions after the Civil Guard arrested two young activists accused of vandalizing five real estate agencies in the municipality. The initiative, promoted by the governing team and with the support of all municipal groups, notes the concern generated in the town as a result of the events and reiterates the Council's commitment to fundamental rights and democratic guarantees.

The motion expresses institutional support for all persons affected by the events that occurred at the end of May, both for the owners of the real estate agencies that suffered material damage and for the activists who consider that their rights were "violated". Likewise, it urges security forces and bodies and competent administrations to act under the principles of "necessity, proportionality, and minimal impact on fundamental rights".

In the same plenary session, the City Council also unanimously approved another motion to condemn the LGTBI-phobic aggression reported during the municipality's patron saint festivities.

The text expresses "firm and forceful" rejection of any form of violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, and reaffirms the City Council's commitment to defending the rights of the LGTBI collective. Furthermore, it conveys institutional support to the victims and advocates for continuing to promote awareness and prevention policies to ensure that Santa Maria is "a safe, free, and diversity-respecting municipality".

The events occurred in the early morning of July 27, after the patron saint festivities' late-night party. According to the two DJs hired to perform that night, a group of people harassed them with homophobic insults while they were collecting their equipment. The artists stated that the aggressors threw objects at them, spat on them, and physically assaulted them. One of them also reported that one of the attackers brandished a knife during the incident.

After making the complaint public, the two DJs regretted that, while the events were unfolding, numerous people present did not intervene to stop the aggression. They also explained that the homophobic insults began while the music was still playing and that the situation worsened once the performance ended.

The Santa Maria City Council condemned the events the very next day and announced that it would promote an institutional declaration. Now, the plenary session has ratified this position with the unanimous approval of the motion, which defends the need to continue working to eradicate any manifestation of LGTBI-phobia and guarantee coexistence in the municipality.

The two motions were approved with the support of all political groups represented in the City Council, who advocated for the defense of fundamental rights, both in the face of possible violation of rights within the framework of social protests and in the face of any aggression motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity.