Six lawsuits filed against the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) for using pepper spray during pro-Palestinian protests

BarcelonaIt was a few minutes before 5:00 PM on October 15th. A general strike had been called in support of the Palestinian cause, which was to be made particularly loud with a demonstration starting from Barcelona's Sants train station. But a group of people didn't head to the exact starting point of the protest. Instead, they sat down on the exit ramp of the station's parking lot because a bus carrying the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team to Manresa for a game was scheduled to depart. Their aim was to disrupt the game due to the presence of Israeli clubs. Officers from the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) surrounded this group of protesters and sprayed them with OC spray—commonly known as pepper spray—in a police action that was recorded and broadcast, and which went viral in the following hours. This Tuesday, six people announced they have filed a lawsuit against this police action.

The six lawsuits were filed this Tuesday in the Barcelona duty courts, and the plaintiffs are represented by a legal team comprised of Alerta Solidaria, Irídia, the CGT, the Intersindical, and the IAC. "The people were sitting peacefully. This weapon was used unjustifiably. We cannot tolerate the normalization of attacking peaceful protests in this way," stated Sònia Olivella, a lawyer with Irídia, at a press conference this Tuesday. The lawsuit is directed against the officers who participated in the operation and has been filed for several offenses, including assault, crimes against moral integrity, and coercion.

The legal defense for those affected has requested several investigative measures in the courts. The first is to identify the officers and commanders who participated in the operation. In fact, they also expressed their regret that these officers were not sufficiently identified. At the same time, they are requesting all available footage from the incident, including from police cameras, and that the Interior Ministry make public the internal protocol for OC spray. Olivella explained that Irídia submitted a request for information to the General Directorate of the Police and the response was that this protocol is under review.

Aftermath that drags on

Around forty people required medical attention as a result of this incident. They suffered bruising, irritation, poisoning... and in some cases, the symptoms have "persisted to this day," warned Xavi Monge of Alerta Solidaria (Solidarity Alert). Specifically, one of those affected has suffered from visual hypersensitivity ever since. Among the complainants are two union members and a photojournalist, who criticize the action for restricting union rights and the right to information. Pepper spray is a police tool that has long been included in the protocols of the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police). but until then it had hardly been used.

For her part, Celia Cassanyes, of the Enough Complicity with Israel Coalition, has announced that they have called for a new protest against Israel on January 6th. That day, Maccabi Tel Aviv is playing against Barça at the Palau Blaugrana. "This match should not be played; you don't play with genocidal maniacs," she insisted.