Two opposing demonstrations clashed in Badalona over the evictions from the B9 building.

BadalonaTwo separate demonstrations, one for and one against the acceptance of those evicted from the B9 high school in Badalona, clashed this Monday afternoon in front of the gates of the municipal shelter that closed almost two years ago in the Montigalà neighborhood. These are the two Badalonas. On one side, hundreds of activists, called together by the Socialist Housing Union, defended the humanitarian assistance provided to the group of young migrants, about ten of whom have been using the shelter since becoming homeless a week ago. Separated by a cordon of riot police from the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), some 300 people shouted racist slurs demanding that they be evicted from Can Bofí Vell and not given shelter.

"Let them go back to their country," was the least offensive slogan heard at the neighborhood gathering, where families with children were seen alongside far-right individuals who accused the "blacks" of being criminals and creating insecurity. "We don't want them in the neighborhood," stated one resident, but her husband, standing next to her, also rejected the idea of opening any other space to accommodate them.

A few meters from Can Bofí Vell, the mayor of Badalona held an informal meeting with residents who expressed their fear about the presence of these evicted young people. Xavier García Albiol called for "calm" and, amid the tension, confirmed that tonight "no one is entering the parish of Our Lady of Montserrat," the space that yesterday, Sunday, was supposed to house fifteen of the most vulnerable young people thanks to an agreement between social organizations such as Cáritas and the Department of Social Rights. However, a gathering of fifty people prevented the church from opening its doors, and it was decided to halt the intake and seek an alternative. Talks between the regional government and the alliance of social organizations continued throughout the day, but the parish was again ruled out due to the impossibility of mediating with the opposing neighbors and the lack of security for the residents and the technical staff.

In the meeting with residents, Albiol indicated that, regarding the fifty or so young migrants who have taken refuge under the highway bridge, "the Generalitat is working with organizations to get them out" of there. As for the ten who entered the shelter, the mayor insisted that his objective is "to close it and remove those who are inside, then seal it off and install a new alarm" to prevent further occupations.

"It's intended for homeless people like them"

Sources from organizations supporting the young people at the shelter explain that the group is "relatively calm," despite the jeers and death threats from neighbors that they can hear from inside the building. "They believe they did the right thing by occupying this space peacefully because it's intended for homeless people like themselves, and they don't want confrontations with the neighbors," reveals an activist, who criticizes Albiol for inciting hatred and confrontation among neighbors against this group of vulnerable young migrants, while during the years Can Bofí Vell was in operation. The director of Cáritas Barcelona, ​​Eduard Sala, called for "rebuilding bridges" to find a mutually agreed-upon solution. Regarding the shouts and insults directed at the evicted migrants by the protesters, Sala attributed the neighborhood tension to the increase in social insecurity, which affects one in four Catalans. "There is a rivalry between those in precarious situations and those in even more precarious situations," she emphasized in a conversation with ARA, acknowledging that residents of run-down neighborhoods "feel abandoned by institutions and even by the organizations themselves." Therefore, she asserts that it is necessary for all those working to assist those evicted from the B9 housing complex "to sit down at the table" and continue the dialogue. "It would be unfair to say that all the residents summoned are racist, just as it is unfair to accuse the residents of the B9 complex of being criminals," Sala stated, adding that without collective efforts, they will not succeed. For weeks, organizations and the regional government have been working together to locate available and suitable spaces to accommodate as many people as possible. But it is not easy because the vulnerable population is constantly growing, due in part to the difficulty of affording housing and low wages. The supply of residential places offered by organizations is overwhelmed by high demand, and there is a long waiting list of other vulnerable groups. Premises of all kinds have been analyzed, including parish offices, but these have been ruled out for not meeting minimum requirements. For its part, the Badalona City Council refuses to respond, despite being the competent authority.