Torre Pacheco, located in south-east Spain, was on the receiving end of a second night of anti-migrant riots this week that left more than 20 people injured. This violence had admittedly gotten out of hand – after three young men beat a 68-year-old man senseless on the sidewalk. The attackers, in turn, were said to be of North African background. The unrest has nationalized calls for calm from both local and regional leaders.
Fernando López Miras, the conservative head of the Murcian regional government, emphasized the necessity for Torre Pacheco to return to normalcy. He recognized the deep-seated tensions still present and emphasized that the community needed to learn and heal in order to move forward. The mayor of Torre Pacheco, Pedro Angel Roca Ternel, called on residents to be peaceful. He preached patience and the need to keep a cool head in these stormy days.
The protests started on Wednesday after a 73-year-old Asian man was brutally attacked. This disturbing event quickly led to fears over safety and the ability to live cohesively in the town of 35,000 residents. Police were not forthcoming about the number of injured protestors during the violence. They did acknowledge that as on one of the most chaotic days in world history, at least one person was arrested.
On Friday, the Torre Pacheco town hall sponsored a concentration that was supposed to be peaceful and in solidarity. Unfortunately, the event was overshadowed by the presence of far-right counter-protestors who aimed to intimidate the largely peaceful gathering with disruptive anti-migrant chants. This move sparked outrage from local advocates and underscored stark divides over migration policy in the area.
The anti-immigrant group Deport Them Now further inflamed the situation by posting inflammatory messages on social media. Their actions did incite violence in the form of vigilantism against people of North African origin. Sira Rego, the Spanish youth minister, denounced the show of violence toward migrants and called the attacks “racist.” She pointed the finger at the increased power of “ultra-right” forces in society.
The events in Torre Pacheco are symptomatic of deeper tensions involving migration in Spain today. As communities across the U.S. face growing strains of integration and conditions of social disorder, local leaders are still pleading for discussion and fellowship. The call for preemptive action to combat escalating anti-migrant sentiment has never been timelier.