Around 300 people walk along the eastern coast of Málaga to denounce the loss of public space and the lack of affordable housing in the area. The march, called by Málaga para vivir El Palo-Pedregalejo, concluded with the reading of a manifesto.
About 300 people participated this noon in a coastal march through the eastern area of Málaga to protest against the touristification of the neighbourhood of El Palo. The protest, organised by the platform Málaga para vivir El Palo-Pedregalejo, started at 12:00 hours from the Plaza de las Palmeras, near the mouth of the Jaboneros stream, and made its way along part of the promenade to the area of El Tintero, as reported by Diario Sur.
The demonstrators carried the slogan "Neighbourhoods to live in, not to speculate. No to the touristification of the promenade" and chanted slogans such as "it's not tourism, it's colonialism" or "the neighbourhood is not for sale, the neighbourhood is defended". At the final stretch of the route, attendees blocked one lane of Avenida Salvador Allende.
The march concluded at Plaza Niño de las Moras, where a manifesto was read and a communal meal was organised. In the text, the platform denounces that the City Council "is increasingly ceding public space to private commercial interests" and points to the renovation of the promenade, the tourist promotion of the eastern coast, and the expansion of tourist apartments as factors that are driving residents out.
"Residents cannot afford the cost of living here and many are forced to leave," the manifesto states.
One of the spokespersons for the platform, Antonio Medina, explained that the protest also denounces the attempt to "extend Muelle Uno towards the eastern area". "This is going to become a large dining area for tourists, the area is going to be gentrified and housing will become even less affordable," he lamented. The platform demands that the promenade be "a promenade that matches the identity of the neighbourhood, respecting all existing trees and common areas".
The call was joined by some of the individuals and groups who have been camping all week in Plaza de la Constitución in defence of accessible housing. This march served as a precursor to the housing demonstration that will take place this afternoon in the streets of the city centre.
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