Spanish and Latin American youths clash in Madrid

Europe News

Jan 22, 2007, 11:15 GMT

Madrid - Police have taken the Madrid suburb of Alcorcon after a street battle broke out between Spanish and Latin American youths, with hundreds of Spaniards then clashing with riot police, local officials said Monday. The problems started Friday when two Latin Americans reportedly hit and insulted a young man and his girlfriend. On Saturday, about 100 mostly Spanish youths came to take revenge. Witnesses said they would have lynched a Dominican family had police not rescued them from their flat. Three people were injured in the street battle that ensued, one of them seriously. Police seized dozens of weapons such as knives, baseball bats and a sword. Three Dominicans, two Colombians, a Bolivian and an Ecuadorian were detained. On Sunday, up to 1,000 youths - many of them with faces covered with ski masks - were looking for Dominicans, vowing to 'kill them.' They hurled bottles, stones, iron bars and other objects at police who responded with rubber bullets. Rioters also burned garbage containers and broke fences. Most shops remained closed. Two people were detained. Police said some of the Latin Americans belonged to the street gang Latin Kings, which originated in Chicago in the 1940s, while others were not members of any such group. A government representative, however, said there were no Latin gangs in Alcorcon and pledged to maintain a heavy police presence in the municipality of 160,000 residents. Alcorcon officials missed the riots as an isolated occurrence. The Spanish youths claimed they were not racist but only wanted to fight crime in Alcorcon. Some people claimed Latin Americans rented basketball courts to make locals pay for their use. 'I was born in Spain but I am a mulatto, and police searched me several times,' a 14-year-old boy complained. 'We are very afraid, because now we will have to pay for this, though my son and I never cause problems,' his Dominican mother said. Spain has a Latin American community of more than 1.2 million people, with about 400,000 Ecuadoreans forming the largest group. Clashes are rare between Spaniards and Latin Americans, who are mostly Spanish-speakers and come from a partly Spanish cultural background. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Ulfur EngilJan 22nd, 2007 - 12:59:53

The Spanish youth are finally fighting back. Let us only hope the rest of Europa will do the same.

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A WJan 22nd, 2007 - 13:12:45

I live in Madrid. There are lots of Latino immigrants here, and they face a lot of racism from some of Spaniards, but not from all.

There is a lot of resentment about illegal immigration, and even legal immigration to Spain, but the Spanish economy is growing faster than the birth-rate, so without immigrants, the economy may be in danger within as little as five years.

It is difficult for a country to change its attitudes about integration, but it is essential for Spain to conquer its fear of outsiders in order for it to flourish on the world stage.

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BrianJan 22nd, 2007 - 14:35:46

A W:

It's nonsense that Spain needs low-skill labor from the 3rd World in order to grow its economy. Menial jobs are the smallest sector of any modern economy and those immigrants consume more in social services than they pay in taxes. Spain has a very large unemployed/underemployed native population, so I would think that the foreigners are allowed into Spain to further depress wages and line the pockets of employers.

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Ian SantiagoJan 22nd, 2007 - 18:10:51

All non-Whites in Spain and other whit nations should be expelled or killed, period.

Viva La Raza Blanca!!
Viva La Revolucion Blanca!!

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I agree. . .Jan 22nd, 2007 - 20:27:56

. . .with Brian. That's why it's necessary to bash the POLITICIANS' heads to pulp. The legal and illegal immigrants are not to blame when they take advantage of the system that corrupt governments in Europe and North America provide. For each and every immigrant a politician needs to be executed — only THEN will this insanity stop.

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cudaJan 22nd, 2007 - 20:33:33

Cant hardly blame them. Third worlders are a problem every where. Its not worth it for the few good ones. When will Americans step up and show the balls these boys do.Diversity is a failed experiment!! OR IS IT? I agree viva revolution!!! Take it back and get rid of the corrupt traders that are selling us all out!

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Mother EuropeJan 22nd, 2007 - 21:02:46

Keep Europe white; as it should be.

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EuopeanJan 23rd, 2007 - 00:06:17

Kill 'em all.

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Ron DoggettJan 23rd, 2007 - 01:03:58

Keep up the great work! Cheers to White Spaniard youth!

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lolz0rxJan 23rd, 2007 - 01:13:23

Dude (lol)

THEY ARE IN SPAIN! THEY ARE NOT 'LATIN AMERICANS'.

Fire the writer, he/she/it is an idiot.