Internal fights and insulting shouts against Muslims in the small Spanish march

BarcelonaFights, moments of tension and violence due to surreal disputes in a demonstration formed mainly by Vox, which has made some chants directly racist. "No Moors, Spain is not a zoo" is a dehumanizing stretch previously only reduced to marginal xenophobic groups. But the far-right party continues its in crescendo and chanted it loudly from the party's official PA system, and the two hundred protesters behind the Vox banner echoed it. All of this was part of a lackluster march that wound its way down Barcelona's Passeig de Gràcia this Sunday, lacking in traction and filled with internal clashes. In addition to Vox, the PP (People's Party)—with Daniel Sirera and Nacho Martín Blanco—and the remnants of Ciutadans (Citizens) were also present. In total, it brought together 1,200 protesters, according to the Guardia Urbana (Urban Police), as well as two thousand dancers unrelated to the march.

"Pedro Sánchez, son of a bitch" was also shouted, in the clear and distinct voices of two Vox deputies, Alberto Tarradas and Júlia Calvet. The march was a mess. It began with punches, shoving, and the assault of one of the dozens of pro-Franco protesters whom the organization, Spain and Catalans, had expelled for carrying the dictator's symbol. This protester rebelled violently and broke the glasses of a security guard. "Here we are speaking in Spanish," she angrily responded to ARA because she didn't want to hear anything in Catalan. There was yet another clash, which came to their attention when a pro-Tabarnia group, which literally had four people behind a banner, attempted to lead the march. Finally, despite the blows, insults, and banging at the pro-Spanish banner, the group was able to take the front line even though no one stood behind it. Up ahead, things were even more desolate, as just behind the Mossos d'Esquadra vehicles, a car blasting patriotic music was carrying a giant Francoist flag. Nearby, a Catalan legionnaire, Miguel, who served in Ceuta and wants "revenge like in 1936." According to what he told this newspaper, "it will come soon."

Some people with mustaches and tricorn hats, in memory of Tejero, shouted "Long live Spain!"and anti-immigration slogans marked a march with Vox taking center stage. The controversial priest Custodio Ballester also made an appearance "to defend Spain" and told ARA, before being praised by a large segment of Vox at the demonstration, that the trial for Islamophobia is going "well." Vox wanted to thank him for all his work and throughout the demonstration, he shouted in favor of "Christian and non-Muslim Spain," aggravated by comparing Muslims to the "zoo" on at least two separate occasions, as if they were animals.

Despite the show, which also included a few hundred Latin American dancers, the march also served to dramatize the struggle between the PP and Vox. Catalan Popular Party leader Alejandro Fernández made a brief appearance but left shortly after glorifying "the most brilliant pages of universal culture" in reference to Spain's supposed conquest of Latin America, which many consider a genocide. Vox's secretary general, Ignacio Garriga, lashed out at Pedro Sánchez's "denationalization" and the PP's "demonization" of Vox. His party's parliamentary spokesperson, Joan Garriga, remained at the march.