Barcelona’s second anti-racism race brought thousands to Sants-Montjuïc on Sunday, with a 5 km route around Montjuïc turning the event into a public protest against discrimination.
The race was organised by Top Manta and dozens of other groups. According to Top Manta and local coverage by betevé, about 1,500 runners registered, bibs sold out weeks before the start, and many more people joined without official registration. The proceeds are set to support street vendors known as manters.
For Barcelona readers, the main impact was around Montjuïc, especially near Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia and the Magic Fountain area. The race added a large crowd to a busy part of Sants-Montjuïc, while also keeping anti-racism campaigning in the public eye.
The circular route started and finished on Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, next to the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. It passed Avinguda de l’Estadi, Passeig Olímpic, Carrer del Foc and Carrer dels Jocs del 92, all within Sants-Montjuïc. The race carried the slogan, “Until all lives can be lived with dignity, the race continues.”
Top Manta said the aim was to create “a great popular mobilisation against racism”, linking the race to its wider campaign in Barcelona. Lamine Bathily, a Top Manta spokesperson, encouraged unregistered runners to take part and said, “People respond very well, they come to denounce social and institutional racism.”
For more local coverage, see our Community and Sport pages. Updates on Top Manta’s work are available from the organiser’s own site at Top Manta.
