Ferraz Night 22: BBQ, Riot Police and Charges

Ferraz: Chorizos, UIP and the 22nd Night of Protests

Outside the Socialist Party headquarters, the 22nd day of protests began with a chorizo barbecue and ended with the National Police Intervention Unit (UIP) in combat formation. One attendee summed up the scene: "I enter and read that today is some kind of street festival. I play the video and there are the UIP officers in pre-charge combat formation." Amidst the smell of charcoal and the riot police deployment, the gathering has morphed into something that no longer resembles a standard demonstration.

The numbers circulating among attendees point to sustained growth compared to previous days. Logistics—tables, coolers, grills—have become professionalized. "Good logistics," one comment notes. What started as a spontaneous gathering has evolved into a festive campsite, soundtracked by Carlist marches and Irish flags from November Nacional, according to testimonies shared in the square.

What Happens When the UIP Arrives at Ferraz?

The pattern repeats. The day starts calmly and ends with police charges. A participant describes the deployment as "overwhelming": after ten o'clock at night, the ratio of officers to remaining protesters becomes five to one, according to their account. "Under those conditions it's suicidal to try anything; besides, Ferraz is a trap," they add. They note that the vests worn by frontline officers no longer display identification.

Some argue that the police response is disproportionate. An attendee who claims to have been in the area describes the officers as "arrogant, defiant, treating people with swagger." Another points out that "the police are the ones provoking and trying to create conflict." On the other side, the official version speaks of disturbances and resistance. However, a video showing UIP officers firing while a woman lies unconscious on the ground circulates on social media, fueling tensions.

Arrests Without Charges and ID Checks

The 22nd night also left behind arrests that amounted to nothing. One attendee recounts that an acquaintance was released "at 4 a.m. without charges." "They arrested him just to mess with him or in case he caused trouble during detention," he interprets. He himself, however, was accused of disobedience for not wearing a mask. The asymmetry between the two cases feeds the sense of arbitrariness.

ID checks have also caused unease. "They ask for DNI [Spanish national ID card] to perform legal checks on peaceful demonstrators at a protest," complains one attendee, contrasting this with the lack of controls in other contexts. According to those present, the institutional response is that the order comes from the Government Delegation, not the National Police.

The Alvise Factor and the Irish Route

National politics has infiltrated the square. MEP Alvise Pérez has turned Ferraz into his personal stage. "He won't get bored with 'El Gañán' [nickname for Óscar Puente]; that guy is full of shit, this is only the beginning," concludes a commentator. References to Transport Minister Óscar Puente are constant among attendees.

Comparisons with Irish protests in Dublin loom over the atmosphere. "We have much to learn from the Irish," says one message. However, another clarifies: "The police deployment and repression are brutal, reaching levels never seen even against violent protesters." The Irish route, they conclude, would require different conditions. "Under these conditions, attempting anything is suicidal."

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Chorizo barbecues, Irish flags, and November Nacional patches coexist with police charges and arrests without charges. The 22nd night at Ferraz is not a demonstration: it is a phenomenon mixing street festivals, politics, and repression. And the disorienting fact: those arrested without charges are released at four in the morning, while those who don't wear masks stay charged with disobedience. Justice, at least at Ferraz, has its own criteria.