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This Tuesday, August 20th, over 500 people gathered in Ciutadella to demand a different path for the island. Under the slogan “Menorca is not for sale,” the crowd assembled in the Cathedral Square to request a change of course, with tourism as an economic activity that respects both residents and natural resources.

This latest Via Menorca event was organized by GOB with the support of neighborhood associations including Ciutadella Vella, Sa Colàrsega, Cavallitos, Ferreries, Es Mercadal, Es Castell, the old town of Maó, and the Federation of Neighborhood Associations. The action is part of a season filled with protests across all the islands. In Menorca, this embrace of Ciutadella’s historic center followed previous gatherings at the Biosphere Square and Cala en Turqueta.The influx of high-end tourists and the conversion of thousands of homes into tourist accommodations in recent years have caused a severe housing crisis, dampening the prospects of an entire generation of young Menorcans.

This human chain was both a call for attention and a warning. It was a call to care for an area under intense pressure from real estate speculation and tourism. And a warning that Menorca will not back down: the fight to protect the lives and rights of its residents will continue.

The campaign for a Via Menorca will persist, seeking a new path for the island. The group invites everyone to join, as there is much at stake. When people come together, their strength not only adds up, but multiplies.