Thousands of Spaniards mark anniversary of anti-austerity movement
Thousands have taken to the streets of Madrid on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the establishment of a protest movement to demand an end to the government’s austerity measures.
The protesters gathered in Puerta del Sol Square Sunday to commemorate the establishment of the Indignados (Outrage) movement.
The movement ignited in May 2011 and led to the formation of the anti-austerity party Podemos, now the country’s third major political party.
The demonstrators marched to the square in a festive atmosphere playing music and carrying banners reading, “Dreams and ideas cannot be gagged,” “Unemployed on the march!” and “European Union of people, not nations!.”
“Today is the anniversary of a real boom that took place five years ago when the people said that we were fed up of paying — with our health system, education and social services — the price of a crisis that we didn’t cause,” said a protester, Ana Garcia.
“Since then, many things happened, many marches and mobilizations, and it’s clear that only through mobilizations and fighting in the streets that we will get what we want.”
“Five years ago, we came here and it was a very moving moment of awakening, of unity, of togetherness,” Paola Weil, a 35-year-old teacher, said.
Another protester hailed the Indignados movement, saying it gave people at the bottom of society a chance to express their opinions.
The protesters also voiced their support for the Syrian refugees fleeing war in their home country, and for suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as well as the Palestinian cause.
The Indignados began occupying the main squares of Spanish cities on May 15, 2011 to protest the eurozone crisis and demand major changes to the country’s political system.
The Spanish government has resorted to eye-watering austerity measures in an attempt to contain the economic crisis.
Since then, protests against the austerity measures, including pay cuts and tax hikes, have grown across Spain.
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