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Barcelona Shack Settlement Eviction Sparks Activist Occupation and Political Divide

The forced removal of Vallcarca residents after a fire risk report has led to protests, building occupations, and debates over housing solutions.

Dispositivo para desalojar un bloque en Vallcarca ocupado para alojar barraquistas
Dispositivo de Mossos para desalojar un bloque recién ocupado en Vallcarca
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Una pancarta reivindicativa frente a un bloque vacío ocupado por manifestantes contra el desalojo de barracas en Vallcarca.

Overview

  • Barcelona authorities evicted 13 residents from Vallcarca's informal settlement on May 8, citing imminent fire hazards following a recent blaze.
  • Emergency lodging was offered to the displaced individuals, but only five accepted, with activists calling the response inadequate.
  • Around 700 protesters rallied against the eviction, demanding long-term housing solutions instead of police-enforced removals.
  • Activists occupied a sealed building on Avenida República Argentina to shelter six people, including former settlement residents, as police prepared to intervene.
  • Political and neighborhood divisions persist, with left-wing parties criticizing the operation's lack of social measures and others supporting the eviction for safety and urban renewal.