- Protests broke out in several Spanish cities on Friday.
- Thousands of people took to the streets in Malaga, Barcelona and Madrid, for example.
- At least 23 migrants were killed in a rush on a border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla last week.
The demonstrators criticized the EU’s migration policy – banners read, for example: “No one is illegal”. Human rights organizations have accused the security forces of using violence against migrants attempting to enter the EU via Melilla. The Spanish authorities announced an investigation.
The demonstrations took place under the motto “Las Vidas Negras Importan” in Spanish or “Black Lives Matter” in English.
The deaths occurred on June 24 amid repeated attempts by sub-Saharan migrants and asylum seekers to scale the border fence separating the two territories. Moroccan authorities said the migrants died as a result of stampede, but protesters blame the authorities and European migration policies.
In Madrid, protesters filled Callao Square carrying signs that read “Kill borders” and “No one is illegal.” In Barcelona, participants marched and chanted against racism and colonialism.
Legend:
“Stop killing us,” reads a sign posted by demonstrators in Madrid.
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Videos and photos that surfaced in the days after the deaths sparked outrage from several human rights groups and the United Nations Secretary-General.
In a video released by the Moroccan Human Rights Association, dozens of young African men can be seen, some lying motionless and bleeding on the ground while Moroccan security forces stand over them.
“I am shocked by the violence at the Nador-Melilla border,” tweeted UN chief Antonio Guterres this week. “The use of excessive force is unacceptable and countries must prioritize the human rights and dignity of people fleeing.”
The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the opening of an investigation “to clarify what happened” given the “importance and seriousness” of the events at the Melilla border.
The Moroccan Human Rights Association has questioned the official death toll, giving it 27 instead, while the Spanish NGO Walking Borders put the figure at 37.
Legend:
In Madrid, protesters filled Callao Square carrying signs that read “Kill borders” and “No one is illegal.”
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