Inscriptions sell out for Top Manta's anti-racism run after five days

The first Anti-Racist Race in Barcelona has sold out all available inscriptions in just five days.

Registrations for the event conceived as a major mobilization against the rise of hate speech opened on April 3, and on Tuesday, all 1,000 spots were filled, the maximum authorized by the Barcelona City Council.

The Anti-Racist Race has seen inscriptions sell out in record time. According to Championchip, the company that manages registrations for the main races in Catalonia, the first anti-racist race has had the highest sales rate of all those that the company has managed in the 15 years it has been operating in this area.

The race organization is working with the Barcelona City Council to increase the number of registrations, and encourages any interested parties to send their contact details through the website to be informed if registrations are opened again.

Supporters who missed out can also contribute by purchasing a “zero bib,” with all proceeds going in support of the organizing cooperative’s social mission.

Historic race

The five-kilometer circular run will take place on June 1, starting and ending in the Sants neighborhood of the Catalan capital.

Organized by Top Manta, a cooperative of street vendors known as ‘manters’, the event marks the group’s tenth anniversary this year and is backed by more than 50 social organizations.

The goal of the project is “to push back against the rise of hate speech and far-right movements,” both nationally and globally.

According to Top Manta, Catalonia accounts for 40% of all reported racist incidents in Spain, which highlights “the importance” of the “historic movement.”

The organizers hope will also serve as “ an inspiration for other social movements”.

New collection: Agua Running Club

To coincide with the event, Top Manta is also launching a new limited edition clothes collection called Agua Running Club. The line includes a running T-shirt, sleeves, and a vinyl patch.

During the presentation of the event, Top Manta explained that the word ‘agua’ (Spanish for ‘water’) is commonly used by the street vendors to warn each other when the police is coming and they need to start running.

About Top Manta

Top Manta is a social and solidarity cooperative founded by Barcelona's street vendors which aims to fight against the injustices of the "fake system", promote the regularization of migrants and generate decent employment.

Through its local workshops, it produces ethical and creative pieces that have gained international recognition as a symbol of resistance, solidarity and social justice.