The morning at the campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) began turbulently: police officers arrived at the university to prevent possible clashes among students. The tension was sparked by the announcement of a visit by Vito Quiles, known for his far-right views and provocative statements.
On one side, supporters of the “S’ha acabat” movement gathered in the square in front of the buildings, bringing Spanish flags and awaiting Quiles’s arrival. Their opponents—students who support Catalonia’s independence and oppose far-right ideologies—organized their own protest. The atmosphere on campus quickly grew tense, and by noon verbal altercations erupted between the groups, nearly escalating into physical confrontations.
Vito Quiles had previously announced the start of a lecture series at universities, inspired by the work of American activist Charlie Kirk, who died in the US. However, UAB’s administration immediately clarified that no official permission had been granted for such events. Despite this, Quiles’s supporters insisted on his right to speak, while opponents demanded he be barred from entering the university grounds.
Police were forced to intervene to prevent the conflict from escalating. By the time tensions peaked, Kiles himself never appeared on campus. Nevertheless, the atmosphere among students remained tense, with discussions about the incident continuing on social media and in the streets of Barcelona. The university administration once again reminded everyone of the importance of maintaining order and respecting each other’s opinions to avoid similar incidents in the future.
