August 9, 2023
In a powerful interview that sheds light on a growing issue, Sandra Martinez, owner of a café nestled in the picturesque Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastian, speaks out about the alarming consequences of violent criminal migrants on her business and the once tranquil community. The interview, conducted at her café, captures the distressing transformation the town has undergone in recent times.
“Every day, we have something. They fight a lot among themselves,” Martinez says, her frustration evident as she recounts the escalating violence among the migrant population. Her café, once a haven for families and schoolchildren, has been severely affected by the deteriorating security. “They have frightened many of my customers. All the mothers from the school, with the children who came here, stopped coming in the afternoons.”
Martinez goes on to detail the drastic measures she had to take to maintain a sense of security for her patrons. “At first, we served them, as usual, until they started to do drug deals on my terrace,” she recalls, describing an incident that led her to involve the police. “One day, a customer said, ‘Sandra, the cistern is leaking.’ What do you mean it’s leaking? We opened the lid and two wallets.”
The inefficacy of law enforcement to address the recurring issue becomes painfully evident through Martinez’s account. “They send police officers to us, they arrive, and the police can’t do anything. They take them away, and after half an hour, they [the muggers] are back,” she says, exasperated. She raises a pertinent question that echoes the concerns of many residents: “I wish the police could do something, too, because they say their hands are tied. Where is safety?”
Addressing accusations of racism, Martinez clarifies, “It’s not racism. We don’t like having twenty people on the benches, from nine in the morning until nine at night, doing nothing, taking drugs, dealing, and scaring all the children who used to play here in the square.” Her voice holds a mix of worry and sorrow, symbolic of a community grappling with a reality they never envisioned.
Martinez’s poignant remarks reflect the broader sentiment of a town that was once known for its tranquility. “Donostia didn’t use to be like that,” she laments, drawing attention to the stark shift in the town’s atmosphere.
As Donostia-San Sebastian wrestles with the challenge posed by criminal migrants and their impact on businesses and overall community safety, Sandra Martinez’s candid interview serves as a poignant reminder of the need for swift action and effective solutions. The town’s residents, who have watched their cherished haven change before their eyes, hope for a brighter and safer future for Donostia-San Sebastian.
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#Migrants