World

Thousands Protest Political and Economic System in Spain

Thousands of demonstrators angry about the government’s austerity program briefly reoccupied a central Madrid plaza on Saturday after police withdrew following widespread outrage at officers’ handling of a protest two days earlier.

About 5,000 protesters flooded back to “reclaim” Sol square in the early hours of Saturday, but later left peacefully, allowing cleaning teams to ready the square for weekend shopping and tourism.

During the impromptu gathering hundreds chanted “Sol shone tonight.” Sol means “sun” in Spanish.

Clashes between police and protesters on Thursday left seven officers and 13 protesters injured, and four people, including one journalist, detained overnight.

The journalist, Gorka Ramos, had been covering the protests live through Twitter for his online news site, lainformacion.com.

The news site said some reports had accused Ramos of spitting at and assaulting officers. But the news site released a statement Saturday, saying that “in a video that was released on all media it can be seen that riot police surrounded Ramos, forced him to the ground and kicked him while he tried to explain that all he was doing was his job.”

The demonstrators were upset that police had for four days prevented them from re-erecting a camp in Sol where they had held protests since May.

Several hundred people gathered for sympathy protests in at least seven other cities, including a 500-strong demonstration in Barcelona’s main Plaza de Catalunya.

Before police withdrew, some of the protesters injured during Thursday’s clashes returned to the barriers manned by officers to plead with them to allow access to Sol. One protester with a bandaged right hand tried to offer an officer a flower but had to make do with exchanging a handshake instead.

Protest organizers said in a statement on their website that they planned to hold another gathering at Sol late on Saturday and hoped to “carry on working” in the square but “without pitching tents or setting up a camp.”

Many business owners in and around Sol have criticized the continuing protest in the downtown square, saying it is bad for business because customers are put off by the large crowds.

Spain is struggling to recover from nearly two years of recession triggered in large part by the collapse of an overheated real estate sector. The jobless rate stands at nearly 21 percent, the highest in the 17-nation eurozone, while joblessness for those aged 16 to 29 stands at around 35 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Comments (87)

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  • Fear The Voices
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:18pm

    This sort of despair brought to you by socialism and the “green energy” movement. Hope and change for a environment…. Subsidized green jobs which chase away the real ones, and leave unemployment and economic destruction in its wake.
    Heck, for Obozo and Algore, this looks like nirvana!

    Report Post » Fear The Voices  
  • sizzler2220
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:13pm

    Just another example of the European Socialism which Pelosi, Reid, and Obama are pushing for America. WAKE AMERICA! The socialist, progressive, libs need to be run out of America now. The year 2012 will be too late.

    Report Post »  
    • Tear Em Up
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:09pm

      Coming soon to a town near YOU. How did things get this far out?

      http://traffic.libsyn.com/mikeleeandterrymartin/Number_75_August_6th_2011.mp3

      Report Post » Tear Em Up  
    • Caniac Steve
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:10pm

      too bad those 500,000 plus people who wwre at beck‘s honor rally didn’t surround the captial dome to remind the cheeseballs just they really work for…We,the people…I’d love to have seen how ABC<NBC &etc report on that !!

      Report Post » Caniac Steve  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:14pm

      Emphatically coming to a town and state near home for all of us.

      Right now we are seeing the European Summer; and once they are done tearing down and torching the region, America shall be suffering her American Winter, and we will either pass into a new spring of Restoration, or the eternal night of iron shackled slavery.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • jzs
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 12:36am

      Uh, excuse me, but I think you guys missed the point of these protests. These are not tea party-like protests, although you might get that impression. Quite the opposite in fact.

      But today’s award for overblown metaphors goes to… wait for the suspenseful interval… to SNOWLEAPORD! Again!

      Here’s the quote: America is at a crossroads, blah blah blah, but if we don‘t make the right choice blah blah we’ll be faced with an “eternal night of iron shackled slavery.”

      SNOW, you can hone your craft by reading entries to the The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. Look here for examples: http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/lyttony.htm

      Report Post » jzs  
    • nubl33t
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:20am

      it is you republicans that are the problem its not socialism… american economics matter globally….
      and we’ve lived under supplyside economic 30 plus years…

      Report Post » nubl33t  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 2:28am

      For Liberal idiots, like JZS
      See what socialism does. Check this video on Canada’s socialized health care.

      How do they like it…

      http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenCrowder#p/u/58/q2jijuj1ysw

      I’ll give you a hint. They hate it. It‘s amazing how Libiots act so superior while they’re producing bowel movements from their faces and only they can‘t see it for what it is because they’ve been brainwashed. Ever notice that public schools only assign Liberal books with revised history. Example of Liberal brainwashing: A writer wrote about John Adams without ever noting where he got his information. When confronted with a letter written by Adams himself proving he was wrong…
      what does the Liberal do? He claims he knows more about Adams than Adams knew about himself and Adams own words should be ignored. Just keep reading the lies JZS, they’ve brainwashed you so well, it’s been scrubbed right out of your skull.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • jzs
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Shiroi Raion, you sound angry. I hope you feel better now that you got that off your chest. I‘ve never posted anything about John Adams but if you want to associate me with whomever you’re think about there’s not much I can do or say about that.

      BTW, the health care bill didn’t create “socialized medicine.” Socialized medicine is where the hospitals are owned by and the doctors are paid by the government. The Veterans Administration (VA) that supplies medical care to our veterans, that IS socialized medicine. Just so you’ll know the difference.

      Now, here is what Americans think about our current medical system. This is Glenn Beck talking, so you have to agree: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1rLv_hNeI

      Report Post » jzs  
    • SpeckChaser
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:36pm

      @JZS – Sorry, Would not let me post on original story

      For whatever reason it has only let me make one post in the last two days, it may have something to do with the “Errors on this webpage might cause it to work incorrectly” message I see. My main point is below, but will address the rest if it lets me post.

      As to my original request, I am hoping you will give specific examples similar to mine but from the liberal view point. I believe as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. I like to hear opposing thoughts. However, I find it a waste of time if the person advocating an opposite thought would not go along with it in their personal life. Like me refusing to personally donate while I preached being charitable to everyone else.

      Webpage error details
      Timestamp: Sun, 7 Aug 2011 17:32:54 UTC
      Message: Syntax error
      Line: 1399
      Char: 1
      Code: 0
      URI: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/thousands-protest-political-and-economic-system-in-spain/

      Report Post » SpeckChaser  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 2:04pm

      Hey man; that’s the “Hope & Change” you dirtbags voted for!! How‘s it workin’ out 4 you? We got another 10 percentage points to go before we get to 25% unemployment; and those high paying ‘green jobs’…..can’t wait….

      Report Post »  
    • HairOfTheDogSob
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 5:41pm

      Too late already..Read Ezekiel…lucifer stands in Jerusalem and says he is God…if a kenyan has fooled you..you do not understand

      Report Post » HairOfTheDogSob  
  • Jaycen
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:00pm

    All those people walking around, looking for a hand out. We are SO close to that here.

    Report Post » Jaycen  
    • John 1776
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:10pm

      We are close. That’s what happens when all you do is make promises to people about how great socialism is…. Then one day, you run out of the other person’s money and the promise comes up empty.

      But by now, you don’t care, you just want all the free stuff that was promised and if you can’t get it then someone is going to pay! Socialism always turns out this way.

      We are on that road, but I don’t think we are there yet… outside of the unions…

      Report Post » John 1776  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:20pm

      There are a lot of union members, social workers, teachers, firefighters, cops, etc who want their promised cake.

      I’ve heard so many people recently complain about how little they collect from Socialist Security, while complaining they paid money in. I pay $244 per month in, but people are collecting $1,200 in benefits each month. That’s nuts.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
  • independentvoteril
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:57pm

    I am under the impression that GOD is for EQUAL JUSTICE any church or POLITICIAN that preaches otherwise is trying to divert away from THEIR short comings to teach the true meaning that they should be preaching..to STEAL from a man to give to another man is NOT going to get them salvation.. they are violating one of the commandments .. thou shalt not steal.. EVEN if they believe their attentions are well founded.. because the road to H3LL is paved with good intentions.. it would also violate another commandment .. thou shalt not covet they neighbors goods.. by taking from one group and giving to another they are doing BOTH.. OVER and OVER.. the BIGGEST mistake is thinking that SALVATION is COLLECTIVE.. it’s a VERY personal thing.. between one man and his higher power.. not between him and his GOVERNMENT.. they will figure it out when those they created as needing social justice TURN on them.. a fitting end..

    Report Post » independentvoteril  
  • thinkinghuman
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:49pm

    The BANKERS are screwing with every country, not just ours. Is it any wonder “we” bailed them out? They control that and took a TRILLION off the top, as a TIP to themselves.

    Report Post » thinkinghuman  
  • dnewton
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:44pm

    No one seems to be saying,” Whoops we made a mistake and should have done something else instead.” Bad public policy is sometimes popular public policy. This is why the government should be small and involved in the minimum amount of depravity fixing. The smaller the mistakes are, the easier and cheaper it is to fix them. I wonder how it is that the bankers are getting the blame? It seems like the accountants should be getting the blame for spending on programs that have little or no return on investment. We were told that for every dollar “invested”, we would get back $1.50. So where is that extra 50 cents?

    Report Post »  
    • sooner12
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:47pm

      “Capitalism works every time it’s tried.”

      Who said that?

      Report Post »  
    • seeker9
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:37pm

      sooner

      I have said that. But then I am one individual in Okla.

      Report Post » seeker9  
  • RepubliCorp
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:37pm

    I guess their green economy didn’t work out………. On eight separate occasions, President Barack Obama has referred to the “green economy” policies enacted by Spain as being the model for what he envisioned for America.

    Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • paulusmaximus
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:36pm

    ?Hows that socialism working for you mow Spain!? Coming to a town near you U.S.A.!

    Report Post » paulusmaximus  
  • BuddyBaker
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:31pm

    In 1934 Germany the Socialist blamed the Jews. They protested and rioted. In 2011 they blame the bankers, the so called millionaires and billionaires. And no one sees the parallel ? This is coming to America people, just look at Wisconsin.

    Report Post »  
  • tom
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:15pm

    Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay Side with Justice Department (and Bishops) in Lawsuit Against Alabama. Even our own U.S.C.C. (U.S.Catholic Bishops) call for we the tax payers to fit the bills, the listed countries and the Catholic Church call it “social justice.” By the way, I care about the poor so when you get paid, I have a charity or two to donate “your” check to. I really need my money to live on and pay the bills, but again, I will be glad to donate your money, now doesn’t that make me holy? If you get the point, Social Justice is demonic!

    Report Post » tom  
    • jds7171
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:25pm

      I like it how the guy said the system is broken. He is right, their socialist system is broken.

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:38pm

      How many billions have we sent those 3rd world countries over the years? Their plight in most cases is their type of government. And when they come here, they will vote for the same kind of people who populated their government there. If we got rid of our lucrative welfare system, immigrants would come here to work and become Americans, in every sense of the word, like the immigrants of yore.

      Report Post »  
    • Applehead
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 6:54am

      Catholic Social Justice isn‘t Obama’s Social Justice! He and his Progressive/Marxists/Communists perverted the term! But their have been Progressives who have infiltrated the church as well as other forms or Christianity and everything else! The scary part all these Progressives have infiltrated everything while we were asleep and the only way to win is through God!!! Unfortunately, about 90% if not more of the country is still sleeping. Google Catholic Social Justice vs Progressive Social Justice! Its the Devil, he takes whats good and perverts it and turns black and white into gray! Uses truth with lies to deceive those weak in their religious beliefs!

      Report Post »  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 8:05pm

      Argentina has not mentioned anything of the sort.

      Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:11pm

    Obama would be proud. They are in the streets, organizing, demonstrating and agitating. Happy days are here again. Only trouble is, the communist utopia they seek is fantasy as it has always been in the past. Europe never learns anything from history. Let’s hope we can.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • SacredHonor1776
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:11pm

    “During the impromptu gathering hundreds chanted “Sol shone tonight.” Sol means “sun” in Spanish.”

    It’s also the latin word for sun, and the scientific name for the sun, and the name of the sun in many science fiction stories… Is there a reason why the Blaze is patronizing its readers? Or is it really that new of knowledge to people?

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:22pm

      What’s the word for sun in UBANGI?

      Report Post »  
    • jds7171
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:24pm

      They just do it so they wouldn’t get sued. i am sure there is a law in new york saying they have to do stuff like that.

      Report Post »  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:32pm

      It’s the “scientific name For the Sun”? Really? Show that to us from any reputable source. You are too smart by about 1/10th. You should have quit at Latin, while you were ahead.

      Report Post » MODEL82A1  
  • NHwinter
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:09pm

    Isn’t it amazing how this is spreading all over the world. Imagine the sinister forces behind it all. Wouldn’t Van Jones and Soros be so pleased. Bet they are hoping it comes to America soon. Oh, thats right, Al Gore is calling for it to happen here.

    Report Post » NHwinter  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:44pm

      Pretty soon you’ll be hearing these reprobates crying that the only way to save the world is by World Government. The UN is chomping at the bit.

      Report Post »  
    • Devil Dog 7175
      Posted on August 7, 2011 at 4:08pm

      Get the U.S. out of the U.N. and the U.N. out of the U.S.

      Report Post » Devil Dog 7175  
  • willnotbackdown
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:08pm

    those who are the biggest leaches on society always protest the most and always blame the successful it is never the goverments fault for buying their vote and making them depenant.

    Report Post »  
  • Charlie Justice
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:07pm

    The end is so ******* near it’s pathetic.

    Report Post » Charlie Justice  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:03pm

    Another Van Jones moment (top-down, bottom-up, inside-out). Those people believe that we all owe them something and that they should never have to work for it. what do you expect??? Of course they will fall to the ball-n-chain regime and they will always wonder why they did not save while doing things right in the first place! Are you listening America???

    Better to not become just another brick in the wall which in the latter becomes meaningless!

    Only a fool parts with their money and has nothing to show for it, will in the end have nothing period.

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • cassandra
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:02pm

    so more state workers are protesting because they can’t retire at 50 and they want was promised them typical of a union socialist system scam, you see obama it dosen’t work 50% of us don’t pay taxes so it rest on our shoulders to pay for everyone else

    Report Post »  
  • Mateytwo Barreett
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:59pm

    To the Spanish people! I hereby personally will do everything in my power to give you “Hope& Change”. (No returns accepted. Some restrictions apply, Not avialable in stores-qunatities limited. Limit 1 per country( which is not a problem since he never stays where he belongs anyway!)

    Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
  • pscully17
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:54pm

    Don Quixote…. he had it right, attacking the stupid windmills in the 1500s or whenever it was. I wonder how spain would look after the Cailifate takes over again in EUROPE.. we would like to help you, but the worldwide enviromovement that started with you, has already cost us our credit rating.. good luck Spaniards.. you’re on your own.

    Report Post »  
  • ddg7
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:53pm

    A bunch of similarity between Spain and the U.S.: millions of spanish speaking people within it’s borders, young people fooled into voting for a socialist government, and unions calling the shots.

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:54pm

      You’d think it was a “STATE FAIR.”

      Report Post »  
  • Bro Geo Too
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:52pm

    Looks like Glenn Beck was right again.

    Report Post »  
  • Son_of_Liberty
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:51pm

    “It is unfortunate, that the efforts of mankind to recover the freedom of which they have been so long deprived, will be accompanied with violence, with errors, & even with crimes. But while we weep over the means, we must pray for the end.” Thomas Jefferson

    3%

    Report Post » Son_of_Liberty  
    • dnewton
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:08pm

      Wasn’t Jefferson talking about the French Revolution? Jefferson sort of sounds like an ends-justifies the-means kind of guy.

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:49pm

      He certainly wasn’t talking about the American Revolution.

      Report Post »  
  • WILLIAM E.
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:51pm

    Socialism @ work.

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:50pm

    It’s coming-are you prepared?

    Review Hurricane Katrina-L.A. Riots (which one?) then ask yourself if you are really prepared to feed/house/protect your family. Like Dominoes these Nations fall-gee, who’s in line to pick them up again…only it won’t be in the same order.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:50pm

    More useful idiots for “social and economic justice”.

    Report Post »  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:10pm

      Foolishness and evil are always economically costly. God has designed history to be that way because he wants us to experience the results of our decisions, because he’s a God that honors responsibility.

      When among the ungodly, that is Social Justice.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
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