Spain: Anti-fascist activists to protest in Madrid April 16

Event

Anti-fascist activists plan to protest in Madrid April 16. Participants will gather at Plaza de la Constitution from 19:30 before marching to the Madrid Assembly building. The action is to denounce far-right politics, and the Vox political party in particular, ahead of regional elections in Madrid that are currently scheduled for May 4. Attendance will likely be in the hundreds. Counterprotests by Vox supporters are possible.

Additional police will likely deploy to monitor the action. The protest itself and related security measures will likely prompt localized transport disruptions in the surrounding area; public transport may be canceled or diverted. Current COVID-19 measures in Spain restrict public gatherings; police may attempt to disperse activists if they are deemed to be breaching these restrictions. A demonstration led by the same organizers April 7 devolved to clashes with security forces; further violence is possible at the April 16 protest. While bystanders are unlikely to be targeted, they would face an indirect threat of harm.

Advice

Avoid the protest as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Heed instructions from police and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Check for transport disruptions and allow extra time for travel in the protest area the evening of April 16.