The town hall square of Oviedo hosted this Saturday a new concentration called by the groups Fiestes Populares and AMA Asturies to denounce the aggression suffered by the militants of AMA Asturies Rubén Rosón and Jorge Fernández, as well as the repeated acts of vandalism against their San Mateo booth.
During the protest, the attendees demanded the resignation of the mayor, Alfredo Canteli, whom they politically blame for what happened, and pointed to Vox as the instigator of the climate of violence.
Under the slogan "Canteli, we are more. For a Town Hall committed against violence," thousands of people —2,500 according to the National Police— gathered in front of the Oviedo City Council in a mobilization that collectively demanded Canteli's departure, amid shouts like "Asturias will be the cradle of fascism" or "No aggression without response."
Direct criticisms of Canteli and Vox leaders
After the national repercussions of the aggression and the subsequent statements of the Oviedo mayor, Rubén Rosón demanded "that he leave now," describing the local leader as "a farce." In statements to the media, Rosón emphasized that the purpose of the mobilization is to show that in Asturias "there is a light" capable of "removing the shadows of hatred and violence from the far right."
"If we become aware and go out to the street, it is clear as in this square that we are many more who defend a just, free, and democratic society," emphasized Fernández, who also directed a message to the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, assuring that they will not be silenced and accusing his party of "normalizing violence."
Fernández also referred to the Asturian deputy of Vox in Congress, José María Figaredo, reproaching him for calling to "go out hunting." "Mr. Figaredo called to hunt. That is hunting, beating people in the street for not thinking like you," he asserted.
He also pointed out the Vox councilor in Oviedo, Sonsoles Peralta, for having pointed "directly at the booths." "A few days later we saw a pack of eight people coming to attack us, kicking and punching us until we were left unconscious on the ground," he expressed.
"That is what Mr. Figaredo called for and that is what Vox calls for at the national level," he concluded. The assaulted AMA militant also reproached the mayor of Oviedo for his words in stating "that they can't be such bad kids" and qualifying what happened as "an anecdote."
The criticism has extended to the PP of Asturias for its vote against an institutional declaration condemning violence in the Board of Spokespersons.
After the initial concentration in front of the City Hall, the march has continued to the square of the Cathedral, where Fiestes Populares has promoted a festival in which Rozalén and Rodrigo Cuevas have performed, along with concerts by Marisa Valle Roso, Ramses and Ambás and Dixebra.