Status: 07/02/2022 00:06
23 migrants died a few days ago trying to enter Spanish territory. Recordings of the events caused outrage. Thousands of Spaniards protested against the handling of the migrants in the evening.
Thousands of people have protested in several Spanish cities against the deaths of migrants in the Spanish exclave of Melilla. The demonstrations were held under the motto “Las Vidas Negras Importan” (“Black Lives Count”).
In Madrid, protesters gathered in Callao Square carrying signs reading “Kill borders” and “No human is illegal”. In Barcelona, the participants in the protest action, including many with African roots, turned against racism and colonialism.
A week ago, according to the Moroccan authorities, mass panic broke out among migrants who tried in their hundreds to cross the border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. At least 23 people were killed.
Investigations after outrage
Video footage and photos that surfaced in the days after the deaths sparked outrage. Human rights organizations and UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the events.
In a video released by the Moroccan Human Rights Association, dozens of young African men could be seen, some lying motionless and bleeding on the ground while Moroccan security forces stood over them. The Spanish public prosecutor announced an investigation.