Noticia -

14N: THE DAY THE SPANISH SAY “ENOUGH ALREADY”

The official data estimated around 35,000 people, the union of workers CCOO around 1 million people, I did not stop to count them but I can say that the influx of people in Cibeles and Neptuno was only comparable to the numbers on 11M, the bomb attack on Madrid’s metro, or the demonstration following the death of Miguel Angel Blanco, PP councilman kidnapped in 1997.

This demonstration, as unprecedented in attendance as in violence after 9:30pm marks a before and after of the protests against the social inequality promoted by the government.

The day’s events began at dawn on the 14th, in which several pickets took to the streets of key industrial centers and to Madrid’s transit.

During the morning of the 14th, a feeder march formed by a platform of youth and unions took to the streets of Madrid’s main intersections downtown, protesting and pressuring businesses to close.

At that march there were moments of tension and violence that seemed to foreshadow what would take place in the afternoon demonstrations.

The demonstrations were called by the CCOO and UGT unions, another by the United Platform which encompasses several smaller unions and other collectives, and the third by the 25S Platform. The three took the usual downtown route, and encompassed workers and sympathizers of the CCOO and UGT, as well as some of the smaller groups and indignant citizens that were not represented by any collective but protested to oppose the budget cuts.

There were signs representing healthcare, education, and disability advocacy collectives and many other citizens’ groups.

Among the hundreds of thousands of people that gathered, there were more violent groups than on recent occasions that did not hesitate to upset the previously peaceful rally at the Plaza de Neptuno.

The police, who seemed very aware of what was going to happen given the immense deployment of police units that were around Congress, began to charge at everyone with great force, dispersing the violent groups in various directions while lighting barricades and throwing blunt objects, flares, and firecrackers at the police.

Violent altercations between radicals and police continued through the night.

The resulting images recall those seen from Greece, although the violence did not reach the extreme of the Greek capital.

There were large numbers of arrests and the police charge left dozens injured, the majority of which were citizens peacefully participating in the protest.

Still, the demonstrators called by the 25S Platform that had intended to spend the night in Neptuno to say “good morning to the deputies” reconvened peacefully and began an assembly. Around midnight the police ordered them to leave the plaza.

The demonstration of the unions CCOO and UGT was supported by public art figures like Pedro Almodóvar.

The support of the strike was 76% according to the unions, and a maximum of 10% according to the CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations).

“THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARI (RAJOY)”
Not remaining indifferent to this demonstration of 35,000 citizens, according to official media, plus the hundred of thousands that they did not count, the next morning we woke up to a new law (this legal proposal has to pass through Congress, where the minority parties will have a chance to modify or amend it, although nearly impossible with the majority enjoyed by the PP) intended to placate the angry residents that went to the demonstration and those that, without attending, could see in the non-official press the police repression from the previous day. This legal decree will halt the eviction of families that earn less than 19,200 euros, in addition of other conditions that still remain ill-defined, which suggests that only a few of the thousands of cases will be stopped, and for a period of 2 years. In the Plaza de Celenque, where they continue to camp out, they have met the news with absolute disinterest, not expecting substantial concessions, and with the spirit to continue the fight until they have achieved their main demands: retroactive payment and fair rent. They continue with a massive drive for signatures and constant support of citizens. The formidable pressure they are exercising against Banquia from the Plaza de Celenque in Madrid and the visibility of the most recent tragic suicides have now united hundred of thousands of people that yesterday marched from the Plaza de la Beata to the Plaza de Colón.

Temas

  • Política, general

Etiquetas

  • madrid
  • police
  • spain
  • spanish revolution
  • strike
  • 14n

Contactos de prensa

Hugo Atman

Contacto de prensa Photographer Photography 0034 607 697 008