Social collectives denounce racist aggression in the municipality of Barakaldo

The Black African and Afro-descendant Community in Euskadi (CNAAE Euskadi), has denounced that on 14 October 2021, a member of their collective, Mamadu, was brutally physically and verbally assaulted by officers of the municipal police of Barakaldo, who addressed Mamadu with foul and racist words.

The racist aggression, according to the CNAAE, occurred in the context of a claim made by Mamadu to his estate agent (12 September 2021) in the context of a rental contract for a house in which he resides. This claim was based on the repair of one of the household appliances that are part of the housing unit. The real estate company accepted the request, sending the respective technical service, who recommended the replacement of the appliance, without this last issue being resolved. Subsequently, Mamadu informed the real estate agency that he wanted to take the necessary steps with the rental contract, receiving in response a charge of more than 3,000 thousand euros, for which reason Mamadu, after having been notified by telephone, went personally to the offices of the real estate agency located in Barakaldo, taking with him all the documentation or invoices for rental payments and others, to clarify that he did not have any outstanding debt with them. On arrival, he was greeted by one of the people working in the real estate agency, who addressed him, saying, "Didn't they tell you not to come, why don't they want to attend to you?" According to his testimony, he was pushed and threatened to call the municipal police, who arrived on the scene, and without listening to Mamadu's version of events, one of the officers told him "hey, if you don't like the house you're in, change", and then he was pushed and shoved. Finally, he was reportedly handcuffed by 6 policemen and taken to the police station.

Mamadu, has been denounced by the Municipal Police of Barakaldo, for the crime of attacking the police, therefore, the trial will take place in the next few weeks, a matter that affects Mamadu's rights, as he is in the process of regularisation of residence. For this reason, the CNAAE Euskadi requests all social and institutional solidarity for Mamadu. Likewise, the greater visibility of the case and the massive dissemination of the events. They have created the following hashtag to increase the visibility of the case #JusticiaParaMamadou (Justice for Mamadou).

Diversa Comunicación