Historic March in the Popular Neighborhood of La Cañada Real, Madrid
On January 31, 2026, over 3,000 people joined a march in defense of La Cañada Real, a popular neighborhood in the southeast of Madrid that has been the target of a campaign of harassment and demolition by Public Administrations in favor of financial monopolies. Servir al Pueblo reports that the march, organized by the association Tabadol and activists from the PAH of Vallekas, La Villana, and La Laboratoria, among others, was a total success and demonstrated the solidarity of Madrid’s proletarian neighborhoods with the people of La Cañada.
La Cañada Real is a neighborhood with over 60 years of history that has been the target of a campaign of urban speculation and eviction by Public Administrations and monopolistic companies. In October 2020, the electricity supply was cut off to sector 6 of the neighborhood, leaving over 4,000 people without electricity. Despite the Council of Europe’s declaration that the Spanish State violates at least seven rights of the European Social Charter, and the demand from the Ombudsman to immediately restore electricity, Public Administrations and monopolistic companies continued their campaign of harassment and demolition.
The organization of the march itself was logistically complex, as the Madrid City Town Hall has allowed and even encouraged the degradation of the path to La Cañada, which is used daily by the neighborhood’s residents. The march started in Valdecarros, led by a large group of Moroccan women, children, and men, and arrived at sector 6 of La Cañada, passing through a muddy and narrow path.
In the unpaved area where the official declaration was read, the immediate stop of the demolition and eviction threats was demanded, as well as the opening of a real dialogue and negotiation process with the residents as legitimate interlocutors, and the recognition of the right to housing. After the reading of the declaration, Moroccan women from Tabadol shared traditional food and tea with the attendees.
The January 31, 2026 march was a total success and demonstrated the solidarity of Madrid’s proletarian neighborhoods. It is an example of the importance of solidarity among Madrid’s proletarian neighborhoods. The struggle for La Cañada Real is not just a struggle for the neighborhood itself, but also a struggle for the rights of the popular masses of the city.
The images have been taken from the article by Servir al Pueblo.
