The collective Blocus Mallorca has called a demonstration for this Friday in the Plaza de España in Palma, under the slogan “for a fairer future, for a better Mallorca for all”, at an event scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and disseminated, as explained by the movement itself, through a statement published this Thursday on its Instagram account.
In that message, the group has warned that, if anyone attacks any of its demonstrators, “they will proceed to the massive destruction of the tents in the encampment”, although, at the same time, it has insisted that it has “no intention of harming” the people participating in the Housing Encampment, set up at the same point in the city.
Blocus Mallorca appeals for respect and pacifism
The collective has defended that it “respects” that each person expresses their ideas and fights “for what they believe in”, and has stressed that its presence in the square is also “a form of protest”, considering that they are demonstrating “for the same rights”. “Blocus is no one's enemy, it just wants to be heard”, it has maintained.
In previous publications, the movement had already expressed its “categorical” rejection of any act of vandalism, violence or damage to public and private heritage, and had asked for “exemplary” behavior, with “pacifism, dignity and respect”. In the Telegram group that disseminated the call, and which was later closed, there was also a call to carry “banners, slogans and demands with heads held high”.
The Govern requests a large police deployment
In the plenary session of the Parliament, the president of the Govern, Marga Prohens, has asked the Government Delegation to organize a large police deployment in anticipation of a possible concentration in Palma. For its part, sources from the Delegation have confirmed that, for the moment, no protest has been communicated, although they are working in coordination with the National Police “very closely and permanently” to guarantee public safety and prevent incidents that could alter public order.
The same sources have indicated that this deployment includes the reinforcement of the means that the Police Headquarters deems appropriate for the maintenance of public safety. The National Police, for its part, has guaranteed security at any point where the protest may finally take place, and has specified that it had already planned an operation after becoming aware of the possible uncommunicated act, which has been reinforced after the calls made by, among others, the merchants' association Afedeco.
Merchants ask for calm and to close earlier
Afedeco has even recommended bringing forward the closing time to 6:00 p.m., and in some shops in the city center, the installation of wooden panels to protect the shop windows has already been observed. In statements to Europa Press, the vice president of the association, Pedro Miró, clarified that this measure did not originate from the business group, but rather may respond to initiatives adopted individually, as has already been seen in protests in other cities.
Miró has pointed out that “everyone has the right to demonstrate”, but has asked that the protest take place with “calm” and “without violence”. “The premises belong to people who earn a living and we would not like them to come and break something that costs us so much to earn”, he said, while expressing his confidence in the State Security Forces and Bodies, although he warned that some “complicated” situation could arise if it is not known where the collective will move.
An analysis of the Blocus network and the protest in Palma
In parallel, the technology company Goldn Owl has carried out an analysis of 10,000 elements published on seven digital platforms by the Blocus network, apparently after last Saturday's disturbances in Barcelona, and has found no indications that it has its own activity in Palma or Eivissa.