Families in Canary Islands who have experienced school violence are organising a demonstration this Sunday, 14th September, on the street of Aduana in Puerto de la Cruz. The protest, organised by the new platform “Break the Silence Canary Islands“, aims to push for the approval of a National Law against bullying and youth suicide.
The march, set to begin at 12 noon, will serve as a wake-up call regarding a situation that, according to the organisers, causes profound anxiety among victims, especially at the start of the academic year. The platform, which represents around twenty cases known as “the silenced”, denounces the inaction of educational and political authorities.
Lucía is not coming back, but her name is rallying Canary Islands against bullying
The urgency behind this mobilization has intensified following cases that have shocked Canary society. The most painful of these is that of Lucía, the 12-year-old girl who took her own life in Puerto de la Cruz last February after enduring a long period of bullying. Her mother, Laura Fernández, is one of the key advocates for the cause through the platform.
Bullying in southern Tenerife
This tragic incident in Tenerife is accompanied by other testimonies that highlight the severity of the issue. El Digital Sur has gathered statements from Heinke Preuss, the mother of a minor who suffered a severe assault at the Luther King educational centre in San Miguel. She recounts that her son, then 13 years old, was assaulted on 6th February by a group of 15 second-year students, one of whom also committed a sexual assault, all occurring a day before the victim’s 14th birthday.
Preuss told this newspaper that the 15 alleged aggressors admitted what happened to both the Civil Guard and at the school itself. However, she laments that the supposed perpetrators remain unpunished to date, as the school “did not respond nor did they file any complaints” and, as in other cases, “tried to cover up the incident”. The mother regrets not having received any apologies from the parents of the alleged aggressors and that the situation has forced her son to change schools, as the protocol, according to the law, does not penalise perpetrators under the age of 14.
An important detail is that her son only recognises one of the fifteen alleged bullies, leaving the others as complete strangers. The events occurred after lunchtime, without supervision, teachers, or cameras.
Consequently, the mother explains that the following months were difficult. Her son did not want to go out “even to the beach, let alone attend school”, despite being a “sociable and calm” child. She also noted that after changing to another institution, he feels “very happy”, but the mother feels helpless for “not having been able to help him more”.
Heinke Preuss asserts that at a political level, absolutely nothing has been done in her case to mediate on the events. This has led her to join this platform, hoping to raise awareness of this reality and to establish a legal framework for action. It is worth noting that this peaceful demonstration is part of a series of calls that have steadily recorded increasing citizen participation.
Promoting a Legislative Initiative
These testimonies and the “silent” cases are the driving force behind the Popular Legislative Initiative (PLI) that the platform seeks to promote. The goal is to gather 500,000 signatures nationwide on paper to present a Comprehensive Law against Bullying and Youth Suicide to Congress.
“School bullying kills,” the platform emphasises. In the manifesto that will be read during the march, they demand “prevention, support, justice, and accountability” for the victims. “Break the Silence Canary Islands” calls on society not to remain silent and to join the cause. They assert that their community has “the highest rate of violence in classrooms”. During the demonstration, tables will be set up for attendees to support the PLI.
