Massive Anti-Tourism Protest in Mallorca Ends in Police Violence and 12 Injuries

• A massive protest against mass tourism in Palma de Mallorca on July 26 ended in police violence, leaving 12 people injured.
• Estimates of turnout ranged from 25,000 (government) to 70,000 (organizers), marking a historic mobilization for the island.
• Activists and unions have condemned the police actions as disproportionate and are demanding resignations from government officials.

Incident Details

• The protest, organized by 'Menys Turisme, Més Vida', was intended to conclude at Ses Voltes, but access was blocked by an unusually large police deployment.
• Organizers reported that police launched unjustified charges after the protest had effectively ended and prevented medical teams from reaching the injured.
• Police claimed their intention was never to break up the demonstration, while the police union defended the operation.

Political Fallout

• Protesters held an emergency demonstration at the Government Delegation to demand the resignation of sub-delegate Alfonso Rodríguez.
• Politicians, including Miquel Ángel Contreras and Podemos leader Pablo Fernández, have called for accountability, citing the incident as a symptom of failing policies that prioritize tourism over local housing and environmental stability.

Context of Anti-Tourism Activism

• The movement is driven by grievances regarding the displacement of locals, housing crises, and environmental degradation; in Mallorca, there are over 100,000 tourist rental properties for a population of 979,000.
• This is part of a broader trend of increased state repression against anti-tourism movements across Spain, including the targeting of activists in Mallorca and Barcelona for minor offenses like graffiti or protest actions.