Fairground workers protest over ban on fun fairs despite lifting of lockdown

Record ID: 1558903

  • Title: Fairground workers protest over ban on fun fairs despite lifting of lockdown
  • Date: 24th June 2020
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JUNE 24, 2020) (REUTERS) POLICE STANDING IN FRONT OF FAIRGROUND WORKERS PROTESTING FAIRGROUND WORKERS PROTESTING VARIOUS OF POLICE WEARING MASKS PROTEST FAIRGROUND PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS AND SINGING RECLAIMING RIGHT TO WORK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VALENTIN FONBUENA, FAIRGROUND WORKER FROM MADRID, SAYING: "They have totally forgotten us, they have set fun fairs aside, they have not included us in the (lockdown) de-escalation plan, like they have done with amusement parks and the shopping malls. We are complaining about fairs not being included. A fair is in the open air and we can have closed areas, with limited capacity, with hygiene and sanitary measures, just like the others." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) IVAN SADA, FAIRGROUND WORKER FROM ARAGON, SAYING: "Our current situation is bad, we haven't worked since last October, I believe that no family in this country can be paralysed for so long. What we ask is that they legalize un and include us in a sector, we are not included in any plan lockdown easing plan. We cannot work." PROTESTERS WEARING MASK PROTESTERS APPLAUDING LITTLE TRUCK WITH SIGNS READING (Spanish) "SOS FAIR" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED AT NEPTUNO SQUARE WEARING SHIRTS READING (in Spanish) "SOS FAIR" BANNER READING (Spanish) "WHY IS THIS NOT (FAIR) AND THIS IS (TRAIN)?" PROTESTER WEARING PLASTIC FACE SHIELD HOLDING BANNER PROTESTER, NEPTUNO SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2020 13:35
  • Keywords: COVID-19 carnival coronavirus fairs festivities protest
  • Location: MADRID AND MELILLA, SPAIN
  • City: MADRID AND MELILLA, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA001CJQDDMV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of fairground workers gathered in central Madrid on Wednesday (June 24) to protest over a ban on fun fairs despite the lifting of Spain's lockdown restrictions and ended the state of the state of emergency on Sunday (June 21).
    Arriving in Madrid from different regions, up to 44 associations demanded the right to work after overcoming the coronavirus emergency.
    They walked from the Spanish capital's Plaza Colon to Neptuno square, near Spain's parliament.
    Fairground workers demanded that amusement parks be allowed to re-open and complained they can't work as they were not included in the country's lockdown easing plan.
    "They have totally forgotten us, they have set fun fairs aside, they have not included us in the (lockdown) de-escalation plan," Valentin Fonbuena, a fairground worker in Madrid, told Reuters.
    The fair season in Spain is only six months long, which is why many families have been out of work since October, a fairground worker at the protest explained.
    "I believe that no family in this country can be paralysed for so long," Ivan Sadder said.
    Protesters said they would adapt to the "new normal", and comply with hygiene measures as well as limit the capacity of visitors to their fairground attractions.
    Many questioned why shopping malls and amusement parks could open, but they could not.
    Spaniards returned to work on Monday (June 22) after the government lifted the 98 day state of emergency on Sunday, allowing people to travel outside their province and to other European countries.
    Children's playgrounds opened again as the country exited one of Europe's strictest lockdowns which had been gradually eased since May, and sports grounds once again welcomed users.
    (Production; Marco Trujillo, Elena Rodriguez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register