Spain: first anniversary of the 15M movement.
“Los indignados” take the streets again on May 12 to celebrate the first anniversary of the so-called Spanish revolution
On May 12, "Los Indignados”
came out again in the streets to renew their protests that began a year ago. Thousands of Spaniards returned to Plaza del Sol
(Madrid), Plaza Catalunya (Barcelona) and other emblematic places all over the
country to mark the first anniversary of the so-called Spanish revolution.
12M in Sol square, Madrid.
In 80 cities across Spain, Los Indignados
marched in a four-day protest set to end on May 15, the date when it all begun
in 2011. Since then, they inspired similar protests all over the world, like
New York's “Occupy Wall Street” movement. Facebook, Twitter and other social
networks – some of them born as a result of the movement - have been their main
tools to spread the word about this young revolution.
The 15M movement has been a model for movements around
the world, many of which have reached a critical mass and brought to the fore
issues of austerity, wealth inequality and political corruption. Yet, in Spain
and elsewhere, governments continue to respond with more budget cuts and
increased police repression. Recent changes in the Spanish government, the
unprecedented unemployment rates and the over 30 billion euros of cuts in
public spending imposed through several reforms have done no more than exacerbate
people’s indignation and aggravate the country’s situation. “We don’t want May
12 to be a celebration of our anniversary, or a one-day demonstration”, state
many activists when asked about their expectations on this new wave of protests.
“We want it to be a new milestone.” For months now, many of them have been
taking part in local and international meetings. Through online conference calls,
organizers from Occupy, 15M and similar movements around the world chose May 12
for a global mobilization due to last 3 days officially.
The first day, the protests departed from the four
cardinal points of Madrid to join in Sol square at 9 p.m. People in cities
across Spain followed the example. Until May 15, each square in the centre of
Madrid was dedicated to a particular issue: education, employment, health care,
democracy, economy, etc. Working groups, workshops, conferences and assemblies were
organized around these subjects to share ideas and find the best solutions. The
conclusions were put together in a general assembly at night time. Many
initiatives were discussed as well, including the creation of a people’s
tribunal on May 13 to hear evidence collected on the practices of the banks. The
renegotiation of mortgages is also one of this movement’s main points, for
which a collection of signatures campaign is in place.
In spite of the troubling precedents in Madrid and
Barcelona because of the harsh police repression endured last year, hundreds of
thousands of people gathered again in the same significant places to show the
world they are not afraid and that unity and resistance are essential to change
the system.
Banners, horns, saucepans, drums and
thousands of voices formed a vivid soundtrack during these days of protest and
march. Inspired by the “Arab Spring”, Los Indignados will most probably keep fighting
for a “real democracy" in a pacifist and inclusive state of mind, as long
as the current system excludes the majority from a decent and just living.
