Almeria Students Join Anti-bullying Protests

Schools crossed Spain are facing renewed calls for stronger anti-bullying measures, arsenic students rally nationwide — including hundreds successful Almeria.

A activity of student solidarity

Thousands of pupils crossed Spain walked retired of classrooms this week to telephone for urgent anti-bullying measures successful schools, aft nan termination of a 13-year-old from Sevilla prompted a activity of nationalist condolences and reflection.

Demonstrations were reported successful cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and Bilbao, pinch nan National Student Union estimating information astatine much than 200,000 students nationwide.

In Almeria, hundreds of secondary and assemblage students gathered connected Tuesday morning, October 28, marching done nan metropolis centre pinch handmade placards that read: “No hagamos a la víctima invisible” (“Let’s not make nan unfortunate invisible”) and: “Siempre justifican sus ojos sordos” (“They ever warrant their unsighted eyes”).

The rally began adjacent nan Celia Viñas secondary schoolhouse and continued toward Puerta Purchena, drafting applause and collaboration from onlookers arsenic chants of “No al bullying” echoed done nan streets. Some group decided to subordinate successful from their balconies hitting pots and pans pinch woody spoons, whilst others clapped successful amusement from their greeting java spot. 

“Bullying comes from galore places”

Among nan students was Javi, 17, who explained why he joined nan protest.

“Bullying really comes from galore places,” he said. “It tin beryllium verbal aliases nonstop aggression online. In nan end, bullying is thing that makes personification consciousness bad aliases incapable to unrecorded comfortably — it doesn’t person to lead to termination to beryllium serious.”

He and his classmates said nan onslaught was not only to honour what happened successful Sevilla, but to item what they spot arsenic a long-standing nonaccomplishment to reside mundane harassment successful schools.

Several banners criticised what students described arsenic “silence” from teachers and institutions, calling for much psychologists and training for educators to place cases early.

Students astatine Almeria anti-bullying protest. Credit: Harry Dennis

Voices calling to beryllium heard

Another student, Ariadna, shared really difficult it tin beryllium for young group to activity help.

“Sometimes you talk and they conscionable disregard you,” she said. “They show you: ‘Don’t worry, they’ll stop,’ or, ‘If you disregard them, they’ll get bored.’ But successful nan end, it still hurts you.”

Her words echoed a sentiment heard passim nan demonstrations: that bullying often thrives successful soundlessness and misunderstanding, particularly erstwhile adults minimise it.

Students successful Almeria carried QR codes linking to helplines and intelligence wellness resources, encouraging peers to scope retired if they witnesser aliases acquisition abuse.

A nationalist speech reignited

Spain’s Ministry of Education has expressed condolences to nan family and said it is reviewing its existent anti-bullying protocols, which require each schools to person a prevention scheme and dedicated counsellor.

Education unions, meanwhile, are urging for smaller people sizes and much psychological support staff, saying teachers often deficiency nan clip and resources to respond effectively.

In nan aftermath of nan protests, respective location acquisition departments person announced caller listening sessions pinch students and parents.

A hopeful connection successful Almeria

Despite nan sombre information down nan rallies, nan reside successful Almeria remained hopeful.

“This is astir learning to attraction for each other,” said 1 organiser. “If moreover 1 personification decides to speak up aliases perceive because of today, that’s already a victory.”

As nan chants faded, respective groups stayed down to cod rubbish from nan thoroughfare – a mini enactment accordant pinch nan connection that alteration originates pinch corporate responsibility.