anti-austerity movement in spain Anti-Austerity-Movement-in-Spain | Page 9

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hold another assembly at Jacinto Benavente on the next
day at 6 p.m. in order to attempt entering the square
again. Police then cordoned off the square, and metro
and train stations closed, while police asked for identifi-
cation from anyone trying to pass into the square. Po-
lice also asked customers from shops around Sol to close
their businesses several hours earlier than usual. As the
attempt to enter the square failed, the protesters decided
to start a new march from Atocha two hours later. The
march from Atocha grew larger as people began pass-
ing through Cibeles and up the Gran Vía heading to-
ward Puerta del Sol, where officers and police vans pre-
vented the demonstrators from marching up San Jerón-
imo street. [116] Police and about 4,000 demonstrators
then played a game of cat-and-mouse as the demonstra-
tors tried to enter Puerta del Sol through different streets.
There were several moments of tension at different points
and by 11 p.m., the groups of demonstrators disbanded
and retreated to Callao Square, where they held an as-
sembly and decided to hold a demonstration at 12 p.m.
on the following day and attempt to enter Sol once again
at 8 p.m. [116] (Outraged Cavalcade). At the beginning of the protest,
demonstrators clashed with police, leaving five injured,
including two police officers. Two people were arrested.
After the initial scuffles with police officers, demonstra-
tors made their way to Puerta del Sol without further
incident. [120]
3.4.3 4.1.1 Asturian miners’ strike
4 August
4 2012 events
4.1 12M-15M
In May, the protesters celebrated the first anniversary
of the “Indignants” protest movement with thousands of
people gathering in several Spanish cities at the same
time. As part of a global day of action, similar protests
occurred simultaneously in other cities including London,
Lisbon, Frankfurt and Tel Aviv. [121][122] In Spain, at least
100,000 were estimated to have marched against the aus-
terity measures. [123]
Police charged against protesters in front of the Ministry Main article: 2012 Asturian miners’ strike
of the Interior in Madrid. [117]
3.5
3.5.1
October 2011
In late May, an industrial dispute involving more than
8,000 coal miners involved demonstrations and a march
to the federal capital.
15 October
As part of the October 15 movement, (related to the 4.2 August
“Occupy” protests), hundreds of thousands marched in
Marinaleda Mayor Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo led
Madrid and other cities.
protests started by labor union SAT (Sindicato Andaluz de
A half million people took part in the demonstration that
Trabajadores, “Andalusian Union of Workers”) to get the
filled the street and marched from Alcala and Cibeles to-
federal government, led by Mariano Rajoy, to end auster-
ward Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, home of the “Indig-
ity measures that involved budget cuts and layoffs of pub-
nants” movement. Another 450,000 people participated
lic sector workers. [124] The labor unions stole food from
in Barcelona. In both cities, thousands remained and par-
several supermarkets to feed jobless people and to ignite
ticipated in the activities and general assembly. [118]
controversy, earning Gordillo the nickname of “Robin
Hood.” The goal of these actions was to stress that the at-
tention was currently on the Spanish risk premium, debt
3.6 December 2011
and deficit instead of on the hunger of the middle and
lower classes. [125]
3.6.1 5 December
Two hundred police officers cleared a hotel in Madrid that
had been occupied since 15 October. No injuries were 4.3 September
reported. Later that day, 3,000 people marched against
As of 25 September, an action to surround the Spanish
the eviction in the center of Madrid. [119]
Congress was taking place in Madrid. [126]
3.6.2
28 December
Around 3,000 protesters marched in the center of Madrid
in what was called the “Cabalgata de los Indignados”
5 2014 events