In Donostia-San Sebastián there are social and political sectors concerned about racist discourse and xenophobic attitudes. A sign of this has been the massive press conference held this Wednesday morning in front of the City Hall of the City of Guipuzkoan. As Argia reported, more than 380 people have approached the Biscay capital to show their support for reading. It is significant that in the list of accessions – at the end of the news – the agents who do not do so well with each other have joined together against racism. The main idea has been that violence against people in situations of exclusion is being “more crude and systematic than ever” in Donostia, that criminalization against this group is becoming more widespread and must be tackled.

They denounce that in recent months there have been events in Donostia-San Sebastián: The creation by some Martutene neighbours of groups of aggression against immigrants, blows on migrants and death threats; the fact that private security workers, local police and ertzainas strike, identify and steal migrants in an “arbitrary and systematic” manner; the generalization of vetoes to access migrants in some gram shops; the publication of fascist paintings – also many swastikas – in different neighborhoods of Donostia; and

With regard to this last topic, on Wednesday morning there was a point of tension in Alderdi Eder, "no to racism and fascism in Donostia!" Among those attending the press conference convened under the slogan “La Paz”. In fact, the presence of the Ertzaintza on the Telegram and Instagram accounts on the far right has also been remarkable. In the end, no fascist appeared to face the press conference.

"Insecurity", a wildcard that serves to cover other problems

At a press conference, they denounced that some speeches blamed migrants and racialized people for all problems, especially "insecurity". "The fascist discourse, with xenophobic and racist messages, points to immigrants as enemies," they said, and gave some examples: "They come to commit crimes, they return to their country, they take them immediately, they come for subsidies," he said. These speeches denounce the fact that there are people who come mainly from North Africa and that many people are in a situation of total exclusion due to the law of aliens and Islamophobia. “But these speeches serve precisely to cover the root of the current problems: the situation of misery generated by colonialism and capitalism.”

In his words, instead of dealing with widespread poverty and pointing out who is responsible, he seeks to confront the citizens who are “underneath” and have highlighted the responsibility that El Diario Vasco has in increasing xenophobia among its readers.

"We believe that the limitations that institutions have in sustaining the social conflict that we are experiencing are clear and, to a large extent, that opens the door to reactionary and regressive political proposals." However, they see and denounce that the La Sirena hostel for homeless people in Donostia-San Sebastián has been used for tourism, that meals of more than 300 people should be guaranteed through popular initiative or that physical and psychological violence by the police is the result of a "cleaning policy".

Furthermore, they find it very worrying that far-right parties have begun to mobilise in defence of these measures.

In this sense, they considered it essential that both fascist movements and speeches "do not leave a breathing space" in the city. They consider it necessary to address poverty and end the Aliens Act that perpetuates exclusion and the entire "cleaning policy" of the city. The congregates have called for a deeper organization at the street level "to strengthen an anti-repressive, anti-racist and anti-fascist culture".

The reading was signed by the following agents: Ernai, Intziri, Bilgune Feminista, Donostiako Piratak, Donostialdeko Ehgam, Bizilagunak plataforma, Saretxe, Kaxilda, Piztu, Erratiko Camino, Amara Berri Ilunki elkartea, Infermua Bizirik, Donostiasllo