Urban Resistances and Migrant Activism Challenging the Border Regime in Madrid City
Urban Resistances and Migrant Activism Challenging the Border Regime in Madrid City

Author(s): Ana Santamarina
Subject(s): Politics, Labor relations, Security and defense, Policy, planning, forecast and speculation, Rural and urban sociology, Migration Studies, Politics and Identity, Identity of Collectives
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Spain; Madrid; migration; migrant activism; urban resistance; border regime;
Summary/Abstract: On the night of the 15th March 2018, the neighbourhood of Lavapiés in Madrid was literally on fire. A burst of rage swelled the streets as the district became a battlefield. That night, Madrid was raising its voice for Mame Mbaye, a black African resident that died just few hours ago running from a police identity control. A migrant insurrection broke out against these racist controls that had been increasingly happening in the neighbourhood since Mame arrived fourteen years ago. This time it was Mame, but it could have been any of the migrants that were claiming justice that night. The night of the 15th March was an explosion of urban rage in which Madrid claimed not to be a border anymore. In a later interview, Mame’s friend Serigne stated: “In Madrid you live with fear. Every morning we joke and say each other: ‘Have a good breakfast because you never know if you will ever be back home for lunch”.

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