Sant Vicenç dels Horts fights micro-racism with 'I am not the paki' campaign

The local council is introducing personalized signage in shops to encourage residents to use owners' real names instead of ethnic labels.

Generic image of an information poster on a local shop window.
IA

Generic image of an information poster on a local shop window.

The Sant Vicenç dels Horts City Council launched a new social initiative this March 2026 to tackle micro-racisms and promote better community integration within local businesses.

The campaign, titled No soc el paki (I am not the paki), aims to change how residents refer to local shops. By providing personalized posters that display the owner's name and the official business name, the Civic Agents Service hopes to replace derogatory or reductive labels with respectful, personal recognition.

"The goal is to recognize the people behind each business by their own names, breaking stereotypes and promoting respect."

Paqui Capellades · Councillor for Participation and Coexistence
This project originated from a student proposal called I Have a Name. It is part of a broader strategy in Sant Vicenç dels Horts to improve social cohesion, alongside anti-rumor training and the development of a new Coexistence Plan for the town.