Valencia Teachers Set Up Indefinite Protest Camp on Plaza de la Virgen

A group of teachers has set up an indefinite tent camp on the Plaza de la Virgen in the centre of Valencia. The action is intended to draw the attention of residents to the strike in the Valencian Community's public education system, now in its fourth week.

According to the organisers, more than 18 tents had already been pitched by the start of the action. The teachers are calling on colleagues to join with tents of their own.

In their statement, the organisers say they intend to "occupy the public space indefinitely" and demand "accessible public education that takes account of our reality, transforms it, and is taught in the Valencian language." At the same time, they condemn the "lack of dialogue and willingness to negotiate" on the part of the Ministry of Education. As an example, the teachers cite the closing of the department building's doors during the final days of negotiations — "one of the clearest examples of secrecy and authoritarianism."

The organisers stress that they have already taken part in a wide range of actions in support of the negotiation process, but have now made "the decision to take a step forward." The camp will remain in place "until the administration effectively meets the needs of Valencia's public education."

At the same time, preparations for the Corpus Christi celebration are due to begin tomorrow on the Plaza de la Virgen. On Tuesday morning, the city council and the regional government delegation held an urgent meeting attended by the councillor responsible for local police, to discuss who exactly is authorised to evict the camp and how to proceed.

Valencia mayor María José Catalá said the camp is directly linked to the teachers' protests, and that ensuring public safety in such cases is the responsibility of the National Police. She called for close cooperation with the protest organisers to ensure the celebration can go ahead as normal.