#12M, Sunday the 12th of May was the big day for a week of actions and demonstrations in Spain to mark the two year anniversary of #15M, the 15th of May 2011, when the indignados (indignant ones) movement exploded in Spain with the occupations of public squares all over the country.
Yesterday in Barcelona, there was a massive turnout of people in the streets. Columns in different sectors of the city formed and marched into the cities indignado heart, Placa Catalunya, and from there a march started at 6pm. After a few hours many thousands had marched up to Universitat, along the Grand Via to Placa Tetuan and from there down Passeig San Joan, finishing at the Arch of Triumph.
From there some groups broke up and did their own thing, the highlight of which was the “liberating” of a derelict building by those green tee shirt heroes PAH (Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca = Mortgage Victims’ Platform) and their supporters. The building has become the new home for families recently evicted by the banks. Some say demonstrations dont achieve enough, some say direct action is the only way to bring about the change we desire.
In Spain, since the crisis began 5 years ago there has been nearly half a million forced evictions, of people who cant keep up the payments of their mortgages due to the severity of the crisis cuts and the highest unemployment rate in the developed world, now at 27% (57% for the youth of spain). The banks take peoples houses and the people are simply thrown into the street. This is not something unique to Spain, but here the difference is that once the bank take your asset, you still have to pay. For many this is an impossible situation, for some the only thing left to do is the ultimate step of committing suicide, tragically we have seen copy cat suicides like where an old couple who spent their whole life trying to have a decent and dignified life ended their days by jumping from their balcony as the police were below trying to force open their homes to throw them to the street.
Yesterday was not the end but just another day of building up the society we want. We know what we want, we are becoming the change that we want to see in the world…
YES YES YES YES WE CAN – SÍ SE PUEDE * Video from Barcelona yesterday* Spain’s Indignados movement holds anniversary march
LINKS: PAH: http://www.afectadosporlahipoteca.com | http://pahbarcelona.org Cunning Hired Knaves PAH articles: 1, 2, 3 and 4 | BARCELONA #15M Newsletter nr 44: 3. Actions and activities marathon on the square and the streets: 10M-15M Groups: Acampadabcn | iaioflautas #12M12M 2012: #SpanishRevolution reloads, takes aim and fires… #OccupyMordor
Reports: Spain’s Indignados movement holds anniversary march | The Shadow of 15-M Spanish / Catalan reports: Milers de manifestants a Barcelona, València i Palma per a commemorar els dos anys del 15-M | Avui diumenge #12M sortim al carrer i després? Seguim tot l’any! | 15-M: manifestación 2 años después… | El 15M vuelve a tomar las plazas de España en su segundo año de protestas | Así te hemos contado la protesta del 12-M Fotos: #12M Barcelona | 12_05_2013 Manifestación 2º aniversario 15M | Madrid: El 15M vuelve a clamar en silencio contra los recortes (+VIDEO)
Background: #23F: mass demonstrations against financial coup in Spain | Homage to Plaza Catalunya: REAL DEMOCRACY NOW IRELAND event Guardian: In Spain they are all indignados nowadays | Pedro Almodóvar backs wave of Spanish protests over family evictions | Spain halts evictions for the needy after suicides | Pamplona’s locksmiths join revolt as banks throw families from their homes | Spanish woman jumps to her death as eviction looms | How the corrala movement is occupying Spain | Seville corralas – in pictures | Spain’s housing crisis – readers’ panel Other: Evicted retired couple commits suicide as Spain debates reform | Protests against evictions across Spain | From networked protest to ‘non-capitalism’ | 27% of Spaniards are out of work. Yet in one town everyone has a job
Posted by fuspey 
There is some really inspiring stuff going on around the planet at the present, 2 of us travelled from Barcelona to participate in the recent 
