Demo for 'racism-free society' takes over Madrid
Monday, November 13, 2017 @ 12:16 AM
AN ANTI-RACISM protest in Madrid has called for an end to undocumented migrants being held in internment centres, and for foreigners living in Spain to be allowed to vote.
Held on the 25th anniversary of the murder of Dominican Republic national Lucrecia Pérez – Spain's first-known victim of racist violence, back in 1992 – the march started from the Roman goddess roundabout known as the Plaza de Cibeles and continued as far as the Puerta del Sol square, carrying banners calling for 'a racism-free society', an end to CIEs, or migrant internment centres, no more Armed Forces at borders and for the Foreigners' Law to be scrapped.
Protesters, who were of numerous nationalities, including Spanish, called for a new Foreigners' Law designed by the country's international community which would cover, among a long list of other issues, an end to all discrimination and random ID checks on the street.
It would also 'guarantee foreigners' political rights', such as allowing non-Spaniards to stand for election in regional and national government, not just in local councils, and also let them vote in all elections.
At present, only EU nationals are allowed to vote in local council and European Parliamentary elections, but even these are not permitted to cast their ballots in regional or national elections.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com