Week 3 POL 150: Political Protests at the Generator

Week 3 POL 150: Political Protests at the Generator

    After a late night out, I was awoke by a noise outside of the Generator Hostel. It was a giant anti-tourism protest happening after all of the built up tension between the locals and the tourists. This is because the citizens of Spain are being kicked out of their homes because of Airbnbs and similar rental agencies to host tourists instead of the people that have been living there for decades. A huge group of protestors came down the street chanting and waving signs. They were there to make a statement against pro-tourism residences, which locals see as the problem of the tourism problem in their country. A TikTok that came up on my feed showed locals spraying tourists with water guns and yelling at them.

   

 In POL 150, we've talked about power and public space. As I watched the protesters demonstrate their movement, I noticed that tourism has become a political issue where locals are demanding accountability from businesses and governments that profit from the tourists while kicking locals out. The protests have become a way to say that this is still their home. The reaction from the workers and guests was disgust and annoyance which shows how easily people can dismiss protest and be offended by it. 

    This was a protest, but it was also a collision of worlds and as we've learned about freedom and rights, but in Barcelona I have learned about what happens when people feel that their social contract has been terminated. This sparks debate about who has the right to shape the future of the city and who belongs in public spaces. This almost turns from a political debate to a humanitarian one where the future can be determined by politics but also humanitarian rights.