Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez
Self-managed social centre in Barcelona
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez is an occupied, community-run garden, situated in the neighborhood of Raval, Barcelona. It is named after a resident of the neighborhood that was killed on October 6, 2013, by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police). Since 2014, when it was occupied it has hosted various events by at least 400 collectives.[1]
| Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez | |
|---|---|
Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez | |
 Interactive map of the Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez area | |
General information | |
| Location | El Raval, Barcelona, Spain |
| Coordinates | 41.37840937462458°N 2.1678142008574537°E |
Background
On the night of the 5th of October, 2013, Juan Andrés Benítez, neighbor of Raval, was killed by members of the Catalan autonomous police Mossos d'Esquarda, in Aurora street, where the Ágora is currently situated. According to the autopsy, he suffered a heart attack caused after being beaten by police officers, who also produced cuts and fractures to his head. In 2016, six agents were convicted of the torture and murder of Juan Andrés, while two other were found guilty of obstruction of justice.[2][3]
History
In 2014, the empty terrain in Aurora street, where Juan Andrés was murdered, was occupied by residents of Raval, naming the space Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez in memory of the neighbor killed by the police. The space has since been transformed into a community garden where different activities organized by various collectives continue to take place. At least 400 collectives have organized events in the garden since its occupation, including social kitchens, concerts, presentations of books among other mutual aid or cultural activities. Besides events or other actions that take place in the garden, it serves as a refuge against police brutality and against extreme heat, as it is situated in one of the most densely populated neighborhoods of Europe.[4][5]
2026 eviction attempt
On April 29th, 2026, an eviction attempt by Sareb was stopped as a result of the neighbors' mobilization where hundreds showed up to block Sareb. The subsequent eviction date for May 14th was postponed for early September after an anti-eviction campaign organized through open assemblies and large-scale mobilization, including protests, press releases, signature collections and public statements in favor of Àgora's self-determination.[6][7]