Police charge against demonstrators protesting Abascal's act in A Coruña
Over a thousand people gathered in A Coruña to protest against a political rally held by Santiago Abascal, the president of the Spanish right-wing party Vox. The event took place in Maria Pita Square, where police established a human barrier to separate the protesters from approximately 300 attendees of the Vox event. Tensions escalated after the rally ended, leading to clashes where some individuals threw objects such as chairs and stones, resulting in injuries and police charges. Protesters included members of socialist youth groups and the BNG party, who chanted anti-fascist slogans and demanded that Vox be rejected in Galicia. Abascal described the protests as coercion and violence, while criticizing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and calling for mass mobilization to defeat him. He also mentioned his desire to meet Argentine President Javier Milei and expressed confidence in competing for a parliamentary seat in A Coruna.
Protests against police conduct following a political rally in A Coruña escalated into new clashes late Wednesday night, involving approximately 2,000 demonstrators who marched through the city center. The unrest began after midday disturbances at the end of a speech by Santiago Abascal, leader of the right-wing party Vox, which resulted in two arrests and dozens of injuries among both protesters and law enforcement officers. National Police sources estimated that around 5,000 people had gathered earlier for the initial counter-protest against the Vox event, though participation numbers varied slightly across reports. The evening demonstration, organized under slogans opposing police repression and fascism, turned violent when riot police used batons to disperse a remaining group of roughly 100 participants near the Cantones district at 9:15 PM. In response, some protesters threw firecrackers and hurled insults, leading to further chaos as individuals knocked over trash bins, set them ablaze, and constructed makeshift barricades using construction fences near the Obelisk monument. Firefighters were subsequently called to extinguish burning containers that blocked streets near the Opera House. The day’s events unfolded in the Plaza de Maria Pita, where Abascal held his first pre-electoral rally in Galicia, a region where Vox currently holds no political representation, including no municipal council seats. Security forces established a human barrier early in the morning to separate the Vox attendees, numbering around 300, from a large crowd of counter-protesters who had been gathering since dawn. Many of these opponents arrived with their faces covered by balaclavas or neck gaiters, carrying red communist flags alongside official and alternative Galician national flags. Tensions peaked as the Vox rally concluded. According to police accounts, several masked individuals began throwing firecrackers, chairs, and stones at the security cordon. This prompted National Police riot units to charge, deploying rubber bullets and tear gas to control the situation. Two journalists were injured during the midday incidents; one sustained a leg injury from a stone, while another was hit in the head by a bottle thrown by counter-protesters. Police authorities reported that twelve agents were injured during the midday clashes, along with several dozen protesters. Two individuals were detained on charges of attacking public officials and causing public disorder. Following these midday events, nationalist and left-wing groups called for a second demonstration. The Basque Nationalist Party affiliate BNG, the labor union CIG, the youth wing Galiza Nova, and the student organization Erguer convened a rally at 7:30 PM in front of the Government Sub-delegation. Additional calls came from the Student Union, the Socialist Youth Coordinator, the Housing Union, the CNT, and the Riazor Blues sports fan club. By 8:00 PM, the crowd had assembled, chanting slogans such as "No pasaran," "Destroy the fascist movement," and "Fascists out of Galicia." The peaceful concentration eventually transformed into a march through the city center, ending in the aforementioned violent encounters with anti-riot police. Santiago Abascal condemned the protests, labeling them acts of "coercion and violence." He stated that no amount of violence or censorship could stop Vox. Abascal argued that a change in government would prevent citizens from being harassed, claiming that Spaniards had already been sacrificed on the altar of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's ambition and lack of scruples. During his speech prior to the clashes, Abascal urged a massive mobilization to defeat Sanchez in the upcoming election scheduled for November 29. He described Sanchez as a "tyrant" and a danger to Spain, asserting that the prime minister relies on buying and stealing votes, similar to actions taken during internal party primaries, or on violence to remain in power. Abascal also expressed regret at not meeting Argentine President Javier Milei, whom he described as a friend, noting that his priority was to be with Spanish citizens in A Coruna. Regarding regional politics, Abascal acknowledged having a "thorn stuck" regarding Galicia and indicated that internal polls suggest Vox aims to compete for a parliamentary seat in the province of A Coruna, where the party performed closest to success in previous general elections. Artai Gacias, secretary general of Galiza Nova, addressed the media to assert that Galicia is antifascist and has no room for Vox. He characterized the hate speeches delivered by the party as unwelcome, stating that the majority of society rejects such rhetoric. Gacias argued that the racism and hatred displayed by Vox constitute a deliberate strategy by the system to divide the popular classes in Galicia. Participants in the demonstrations included members of the Socialist Youth, BNG affiliates, and local housing union representatives. The atmosphere remained tense throughout the day, with the initial security deployment visible from early hours. The sequence of events highlighted deep divisions within the community, with organizers describing the police action as disproportionate and indiscriminate, while the political leadership of Vox framed the opposition as an attempt to suppress democratic expression through force. The aftermath saw scattered fires and damaged infrastructure in central districts before the crowds dispersed.
4 reports
La VanguardiaIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 6520 hr. ago
Violent clashes erupted in central A Coruna on Wednesday during a pre-campaign rally by Vox leader Santiago Abascal, resulting in two arrests. Approximately 5,000 people participated in a counter-protest organized by anti-fascist groups and left-wing independentist collectives, which escalated into physical confrontations after the event concluded. Protesters threw objects such as stones, chairs, and firecrackers at police lines, prompting security forces to deploy rubber bullets and tear gas. The National Police reported twelve officers injured, while several dozen protesters were also hurt, including two journalists who were struck by thrown debris. Abascal characterized the incident as state-sponsored coercion and violence, linking it to broader claims that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is encouraging unrest ahead of the November 29 election.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the violent clash by detailing actions taken by both the protesters and the police, citing specific injuries and arrests on all sides. It includes direct quotes from the Vox leader criticizing the government and describes the slogans used by the opposition,
Why factuality (80): Mostly accurate regarding the main facts (2 detained, injuries, location). However, it states '5,000 people participated,' which conflicts with Article 0's '2,000' and Article 2's similar lower estimate, making this figure potentially exaggerated or referring to a different metric (total attendance
Why objectivity (65): Uses charged language such as 'altísima tensión' (extremely high tension) and describes the counter-protesters as a 'grupo numeroso y violento' (numerous and violent group), which frames the narrative more negatively toward the protesters compared to the neutral reporting in Article 0. It quotes Aba
elDiario.esIndependentProgressiveFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 7011 hr. ago
Approximately 2,000 people participated in evening protests in A Coruna against police actions during midday riots that followed a speech by Vox leader Santiago Abascal. The initial gathering at the Government Sub-delegation turned into a march through the city center, ending in clashes between dozens of protesters and riot police who used batons to disperse the crowd. As most participants left, remaining demonstrators threw fireworks and insults at officers before fleeing, knocking over and burning trash containers and building makeshift barricades with construction fences. The unrest spread to other areas, including near the Opera House, where firefighters extinguished a burning container blocking the street. The demonstrations were organized under slogans opposing police repression and fascism by nationalist groups such as BNG and CIG, along with student unions and labor organizations.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the event primarily through the lens of the opposition's grievances, explicitly citing their anti-fascist and anti-repression slogans. It attributes the escalation to specific police tactics like baton charges while describing protester violence (fireworks, barricades) as reactive
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (70): The tone is largely descriptive but leans slightly towards the perspective of the protesters by using terms like 'altercados' (clashes/disturbances) rather than 'violencia' (violence) when describing the police response, though it does note the police used batons. It presents the slogans ('against f
infoLibreIndependentProgressiveFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 5018 hr. ago
Over a thousand people gathered in A Coruña to protest against a political rally held by Santiago Abascal, the president of the Spanish right-wing party Vox. The event took place in Maria Pita Square, where police established a human barrier to separate the protesters from approximately 300 attendees of the Vox event. Tensions escalated after the rally ended, leading to clashes where some individuals threw objects such as chairs and stones, resulting in injuries and police charges. Protesters included members of socialist youth groups and the BNG party, who chanted anti-fascist slogans and demanded that Vox be rejected in Galicia. Abascal described the protests as coercion and violence, while criticizing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and calling for mass mobilization to defeat him. He also mentioned his desire to meet Argentine President Javier Milei and expressed confidence in competing for a parliamentary seat in A Coruna.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the conflict through the lens of the anti-Vox protest, dedicating significant space to the specific actions of left-wing and nationalist groups (Socialist Youth, BNG/Galiza Nova) and quoting their anti-fascist slogans at length. While it includes quotes from Abascal, the narrative
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (50): Attempts balance by including Abascal's strong statements against Sanchez and the government, contrasting them with the protest slogans. However, the opening sentence emphasizes the police charging the protesters, setting a tone that highlights state force. The inclusion of Abascal's inflammatory rh
El PaísIndependent🔒ProgressiveFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 4017 hr. ago
The first pre-electoral rally by Santiago Abascal in Galicia ended with police charges that injured several young people participating in a protest against the far-right. The police intervention began after Abascal and his supporters had already left Maria Pita Square in A Coruna, a region where Vox currently holds no political representation. Attendees and organizing groups described the police action as disproportionate and indiscriminate. Later in the day, approximately 2,000 people gathered in front of the Government Sub-delegation to express their rejection of the event. Clashes also occurred in the city center during this secondary demonstration.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the incident through the perspective of the protesters, explicitly quoting attendees who characterize the police action as 'disproportionate' and 'indiscriminate.' It highlights the lack of political representation for Vox in the region to contextualize the opposition, and focuses
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (40): Highly biased in favor of the protesters/anti-fascist side. Uses emotionally charged phrases like 'protesta contra la extrema derecha' (protest against the far right) and explicitly states attendees called the police action 'disproportionate.' It omits Abascal's direct quote or reaction entirely, fo
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