Thousands protest mass tourism in Mallorca as clashes injure eight, spark police inquiry

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Thousands protest mass tourism in Mallorca as clashes injure eight, spark police inquiry
Tens of thousands protest in Mallorca against mass tourism, demand visitor limits
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Tens of thousands of people protested against mass tourism in Palma, Mallorca, on Sunday. The demonstration, organized by the platform "Menys Turisme, Més Vida" (Less Tourism, More Life), which includes more than 60 organizations, drew estimates of between 25,000 and 70,000 participants, according to police and organizers respectively.
The protest, held under the slogan "Mallorca am Limit," aimed to highlight issues such as housing shortages and the impacts of mass tourism on the island's culture and environment. The demonstrators marched from Plaza de España to the area near Palma Cathedral, where a final rally was planned.
Clashes erupted when police blocked access to the rally area, citing capacity limits. According to police, a minority of radical protesters threw stones, paving stones, and sticks at officers, who responded with batons and rubber bullets. Eight people were injured in the clashes, including a man with a bleeding head wound and a journalist who was hit by a police baton. Two of the injured were taken to the hospital, according to The Times.
The organizers of the protest blamed the police for using excessive force and called for the resignation of the government delegate in the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez. Rodríguez has announced an investigation into the police actions, stating that the actions were disproportionate and that directives of containment and calm had been given. He also questioned the police action against some of the protesters who did not pose a threat to the security of the agents or others.
The protest is part of a growing movement against mass tourism in Mallorca. The organizers have called for limits on the number of visitors to the island and measures to address the housing crisis. Another protest is planned for August 8 in Sóller.
The organizers had previously published a "Handbook for Action against Tourism," which called for non-violent direct actions such as blocking locks on holiday homes with silicone and wearing dark clothing and face masks. The police accused a radical minority of infiltrating the protest and causing the violence.
According to the police, the violence started when some protesters tried to break through the security barriers and entered the restricted area near the cathedral. The police stated that they had agreed with the organizers to control access to the area due to limited capacity, but that the organizers had not informed the protesters of this arrangement.
The organizers, however, claimed that the police had limited access to the area to only 2,000 people, even though the space was not half full. They also accused the police of preventing access to medical services for the injured and of using excessive force without warning.
The government delegate, Alfonso Rodríguez, stated that he had been in contact with the police and the organizers for weeks leading up to the protest and had emphasized the need for calm and security. He also condemned the violence against the police officers and called for a thorough investigation into the incidents.
The police union Jupol defended the police action, stating that the officers acted in accordance with the principles of proportionality and only after being attacked by radical groups. They also called on the government delegate to focus on the injuries sustained by the police officers while performing their duties.
The protest on Sunday was the third of its kind in three years, reflecting the ongoing concerns of local residents about the impacts of tourism on their quality of life. The organizers have announced another protest in Sóller on August 8.
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