“Citizens’ Tide” protests flood Spain
"Global Noise" protest in Madrid, Oct.13, 2012
Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets in 16 Spanish cities on Saturday Feb. 23 to protest against austerity and demand true democracy. They were chanting “You got envelopes, we got cuts!”
The “Citizens’Tide, 23F”protests chose Feb. 23 to mark the 32nd anniversary of a failed military coup in 1981 by right-wing officers. Now many Spaniards fear that Spain is facing a financial coup. Spain suffers its worst economic recession with unemployment rate of 26 percent. The conservative government bailed out banks at the expense of the 99%, by imposing austerity cuts and tax hikes.
“This government has swept everything we have achieved in democracy. We will suffer a lot, so we have to go out and protest together against cuts and corruption,” a protester told El País.
The movement united more than 300 groups from all walks of life such as doctors, teachers, firefighters, miners, nurses, doctors, students, 15-M members, youth, pensioners and representatives of political parties.
