Hundreds of people gathered in the center of Gasteiz on Monday afternoon, called by 47 diverse organizations, in response to the serious attack suffered two weeks prior by the occupied neighborhoods. The objective was to express solidarity and support for the Errekaleor Bizirik project, and to reject the fascist discourse they believe underlies the events.
The demonstration brought together a wide diversity of participants, including neighborhood collectives, anti-racist activists, organizations working against exclusion and poverty, unions, and solidarity networks. Organizers stated they wanted to denounce the discourse spread weeks earlier by the party Vox in Errekaleor, and that this discourse has been adopted by the Ertzaintza and certain political officials.
Reporting on the events, they recalled the attack on May 13th in Errekaleor. They detailed how people living on the streets attempted to enter several houses in the neighborhood in an increasingly aggressive manner, injuring several individuals, and receiving direct support from the Ertzaintza. Furthermore, they reported that a member of Errekaleor seriously injured in the violent attack on the morning of May 14th remained hospitalized until Tuesday, suffering fractures to the skull and an arm, and having lost vision in one eye.
The organizers denounced that a "fascist ideology" lies at the root of what happened, and that the discourse promoted by Vox has been adopted by the Ertzaintza and several political parties. They accused them of promoting division between racism and the oppressed to prevent a unified struggle against those who oppress them, and denounced the instrumentalization of the situation of homeless people.
They particularly criticized the statements of the mayor Maider Etxebarria and the Security Councilor Bingen Zupiria for "feeding" fascist logic. They called on the City Council to guarantee a "dignified solution" for people living on the streets, including the use of "vacant housing in the city," and demanded that the Security Department initiate an internal investigation.
The organizations expressed their commitment to continue collaborating in the fight against fascism and extended their solidarity to the members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were beaten and arrested by the Ertzaintza on Saturday, as well as to the fans of the Alavés football team and the neighbors of the Old Town.
