Filmed in Madrid last Friday, a video showing police officers beating two migrants quickly went viral in Spain. According to the local daily El País, several associations and left-wing parties have already filed complaints for police violence. An investigation was opened by the Spanish Interior Ministry.
Recorded by a witness from his car, this scene in the Lavapiés district is shocking. In this video of approximately one minute, we can see a man immobilized on the ground by a police officer, while a second officer hits him with a baton.
350 people gathered in Madrid
After a few seconds, another black man who appeared to be asking the officer to calm down was roughly pushed against the iron curtain of a store. Seized by the throat by the police officer, the migrant finally managed to escape before being chased by several officials. The intervention resulted in the arrest of the two individuals, who were released on Saturday evening.
At the call of the Podemos, Sumar and Más Madrid parties, a demonstration took place on Sunday to protest against this police exit described as “racist”. “We are asking the government to do something, this cannot continue,” said Podemos anti-racist activist Serigne Mbayé, during this gathering which brought together around 350 people in Madrid.
The mayor supports the police
The Ministry of the Interior affirmed for its part that it would analyze “the facts and actions which may reveal an alleged violation of the fundamental rights of people during police action”.
For his part, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, supported the police. “Until proven otherwise, I have total confidence in the state security forces and bodies,” he declared to our Spanish colleagues.