Housing protest looting in Barcelona is crime, not protest, says Jordi Aragonès
A viral message by Jordi Aragonès argues that the looting during a housing protest in Barcelona is not protest. The text separates crime from political demands.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Jordi Aragonès's tweet describes the looting that took place during a housing protest in Barcelona as crime rather than protest, and stresses that none of it has anything to do with the cost of living.
The message circulating on the social network X, signed by **Jordi Aragonès**, is short and to the point. Written in Catalan, it says that those who loot «are not protesters, they are incivil». It then adds an idea that works as an economic argument: looting is not protest, and none of it has anything to do with the cost of living.
## Looting is not protesting
The distinction the text draws is legal before it is political. A demonstration is a peaceful gathering protected by the right of assembly; looting is a crime against property. Mixing the two not only muddies public debate, it also weakens the legitimacy of those protesting for genuine reasons.
The tweet does not question whether housing is expensive. In fact, it takes the opposite for granted: it assumes there is a cost-of-living problem and, precisely for that reason, separates that problem from acts of plunder. Legitimate protest and looting share neither cause nor method.
## The cost of living as an excuse
The final sentence is the most political part of the message. By stating that «res d'això té a veure amb el cost de la vida» (none of this has anything to do with the cost of living), the author rejects the link that is sometimes drawn between economic hardship and riots. Not every act of violence at a protest is a consequence of rent prices or the cost of groceries.
When that link is taken for granted, it has a perverse effect: it turns crime into an understandable reaction and shifts the blame onto the context. The tweet rejects that logic without denying the existence of the crisis. It is an uncomfortable distinction for those who prefer to explain everything through economics.
## What is at stake in public debate
The message rests on a verifiable fact: during a housing protest in **Barcelona**, looting took place and a shop remained closed. From there, the author builds a thesis about how what peine should be described.
Naming matters. If looting is reported as protest, the protest is tainted. If it is reported as crime, protest can continue to exist as a legitimate tool. The tweet chooses the latter, and does so with a short sentence that leaves no room for nuance.
## Key points
- The tweet is signed by **Jordi Aragonès** and spread on the social network **X**.
- The original text is in Catalan and states that looters «no són manifestants, són delinquents» (are not protesters, they are incivil).
- The protest was part of a housing mobilisation in **Barcelona**.
- The message argues that «el saqueig no és protesta» (looting is not protest) and that none of it has anything to do with the cost of living.
- The post includes an image or video that is not described in the quoted text.
The message circulating on the social network X, signed by **Jordi Aragonès**, is short and to the point. Written in Catalan, it says that those who loot «are not protesters, they are incivil». It then adds an idea that works as an economic argument: looting is not protest, and none of it has anything to do with the cost of living.
## Looting is not protesting
The distinction the text draws is legal before it is political. A demonstration is a peaceful gathering protected by the right of assembly; looting is a crime against property. Mixing the two not only muddies public debate, it also weakens the legitimacy of those protesting for genuine reasons.
The tweet does not question whether housing is expensive. In fact, it takes the opposite for granted: it assumes there is a cost-of-living problem and, precisely for that reason, separates that problem from acts of plunder. Legitimate protest and looting share neither cause nor method.
## The cost of living as an excuse
The final sentence is the most political part of the message. By stating that «res d'això té a veure amb el cost de la vida» (none of this has anything to do with the cost of living), the author rejects the link that is sometimes drawn between economic hardship and riots. Not every act of violence at a protest is a consequence of rent prices or the cost of groceries.
When that link is taken for granted, it has a perverse effect: it turns crime into an understandable reaction and shifts the blame onto the context. The tweet rejects that logic without denying the existence of the crisis. It is an uncomfortable distinction for those who prefer to explain everything through economics.
## What is at stake in public debate
The message rests on a verifiable fact: during a housing protest in **Barcelona**, looting took place and a shop remained closed. From there, the author builds a thesis about how what peine should be described.
Naming matters. If looting is reported as protest, the protest is tainted. If it is reported as crime, protest can continue to exist as a legitimate tool. The tweet chooses the latter, and does so with a short sentence that leaves no room for nuance.
## Key points
- The tweet is signed by **Jordi Aragonès** and spread on the social network **X**.
- The original text is in Catalan and states that looters «no són manifestants, són delinquents» (are not protesters, they are incivil).
- The protest was part of a housing mobilisation in **Barcelona**.
- The message argues that «el saqueig no és protesta» (looting is not protest) and that none of it has anything to do with the cost of living.
- The post includes an image or video that is not described in the quoted text.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (2 replies).
More summaries
-
Spain's Sueca parricide allegedly made mother hear son die
In Spain, the alleged killer of a boy in Sueca reportedly forced his mother to listen to his death, reigniting debates on vicarious violence.
-
Barcelona Metro Fight Video Costs Employee His Job
A viral video of a fight in Barcelona's metro leads to the worker's dismissal, reigniting debate over social media's role in labor disputes.
-
Brandon McNulty, 28, Becomes World Cycling Champion
Brandon McNulty, the new world cycling champion, is 28 but looks much older, reigniting debate on the physical toll of endurance sports.
-
Bar Paco: no smoke, no sawdust, no slot machines
Bar Paco has lost its sawdust, smoke and slot machines. This is what the counter looks like at 7 a.m., and one forum user counts 40 rifles outside.
-
Renters in Spain save more than mortgage-free homeowners
A report by elEconomista claims renters save more than homeowners without a mortgage; the debate points to the forced discipline of saving to buy a home.
-
Ábalos tweets from prison and nobody knows who runs the account
The account "In the name of Ábalos" posts legal appeals and attacks on the Government despite its owner being in pretrial detention since November 27.