The mobilization, spearheaded by the Madrid Tenants' Union, aims to denounce the current housing crisis affecting the capital. The protest will begin at 12:00 PM in Atocha and conclude at the Metro Sevilla station.
The event is supported by numerous housing collectives from the Community of Madrid, as well as other organizations such as CGT, Firefighters Against Evictions, and anti-racist, environmental, and feminist groups, highlighting the broad nature of the call.
“"Rent in Madrid has increased by more than 50% in the last five years, with an average cost across the entire Community exceeding 1,500 euros per month. More than 70% of salaries are dedicated to paying rent, meaning 3 out of every 4 days worked go to landlords."
Organizers criticize the government's lack of response to this situation, which allows speculation in the market. They demand a reduction in rental prices, indefinite contracts to provide stability, an end to fraud in room and seasonal rentals, the recovery of homes from vulture funds, and the creation of public housing that does not end up in private hands.
From the Tenants' Union, it is denounced that some sectors try to divert attention from the housing crisis by blaming migrant populations, squatting, or pensioners, seeking to create confrontations. They argue that most property owners also suffer the consequences of rentism, seeing their neighborhoods transformed into tourist parks and their relatives, neighbors, and friends struggling to rent a home.
“"This crisis has been caused and continues to be sustained by landlords, real estate agencies, funds, banks, alarm companies, and large real estate conglomerates, as well as by governments and public institutions that have enabled this model with their policies, intervening in the market in favor of speculation."
The campaign of mobilizations will extend throughout the country, with protests scheduled in several cities. After starting in Guadalajara on May 23, May 24 will be a key day with simultaneous calls in Madrid, Teruel, Zaragoza, and Badajoz. The month will conclude with mobilizations in Burgos, Logroño, and Murcia on the 30th, and in Valladolid on the 31st. In June, protests will continue in Vigo (5th), Catalonia, Valencia, Alicante, Gijón, A Coruña, Ourense, Segovia, Cantabria, Ávila, and Santiago de Compostela (6th), concluding in Salamanca (June 21), Málaga and Cádiz (June 27), and Gran Canaria (June 28).
