Harrera Sarea denounces the "totally discriminatory and racist attitude" of the Donostia City Council

On Monday, the San Sebastián Citizen Reception Network denounced the "totally discriminatory and racist attitude" of the San Sebastián City Council, which, after banningthe distribution of supportive dinners by the Street Solidarity Dinner Association (KAS), is carrying out "various acts of eviction and cleansingagainst people living on the street ".

Spokespersons for the Reception Network have reported that "in the summer months these actions of the Municipal Police and the Ertzaintza have intensified ", including" threats to leave places where these people sleep, to break and destroy their belongings, to tear up tents and to remove and throw away their personal items ".

Moreover, they criticize the fact that the mayor of San Sebastián, Jon Insausti, "is trying to clear his position by offering or trying to offer absolutely inadequate means to deal with the situation. "They also regret that a person can spend between one and two years living on the streets in order to receive some stable resource or effective protection until the formalities are completed.

They also explain that "the municipal shelter offers only five nights every three months; that there are no social canteens; that there is not enough access to showers and washing machines; and that no clothes are given to those who sleep in the street, not even a blanket."

Criminalizing solidarity

The members of the Reception Network have been "deeply surprised by the extreme level of criminalization of solidarity in the city" and have denounced that "not only are people being persecuted, identified and threatened with their carts who go out in the afternoon to distribute sandwiches; persecution is reaching the activities of associations".

In this regard, they have warned that in recent days there have been "very serious situations", such as the threat to identify and punish volunteers for sharing a snack with homeless young people or teaching Spanish and Basque.

"Migrants are constantly asked to integrate, learn the languages here, attend classes and take training courses," but "when they make that effort and want to learn both languages, in volunteer spaces — because there are not enough places in official courses — they encounter situations of harassment, obstacles and obstacles."

After stressing that this is a "totally discriminatory and racist attitude," they have described it as "serious and sad that, in the twenty-first century, we have to live in such situations solely for the sake of helping, protecting and assisting people in need."

"We cannot normalize the fact that solidarity is monitored, persecuted or threatened with sanctions when it targets homeless people, whether they are migrants or not.