SPAIN ANTI-AUSTERITY PROTESTERS CLASH WITH POLICE

[MindMover]

Source: AP

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police and protesters clashed during an anti-austerity demonstration that drew tens of thousands of people to central Madrid on Saturday. Police said in a statement that six officers were injured and 12 people were arrested.

As a final speech was being given, some protesters attempted to break through a police barrier and make their way toward the nearby headquarters of the governing conservative Popular Party. Riot police then charged the protesters, who hurled bottles and other objects, and beat them back with batons.

One police vehicle and a bank were damaged by protesters. It wasn't immediately clear how many protesters were injured, and if anybody was seriously hurt on either side.

Protesters say Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government has eroded Spain's much-valued public health and education systems, while saddling Spaniards with sky-high unemployment and more debt.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/big-protest-spain-against-government-austerity

[BelgianMadCow]

1. Spanish Police Fire Rubber Bullets As Anti-Austerity Protest Turns Violent

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/spanish-police-fire-rubber-bullets-anti-austerity-protest-turns-violent-1441453

Violence flared in Madrid on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets to protest against poverty and EU-imposed austerity.

Demonstrators threw stones and bottles at riot police and attacked cash machines. The riot police responded by charging and firing rubber bullets, according to Reuters video footage. There were also reports of the police using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

"The mass rally was coming to an an end when reportedly a group of younger protesters, who had masks on their faces, started throwing rocks at the police. Police tried to push them away from the parameter that they organized around this area," said RT's Egor Piskunov reporting from the Spanish capital.

"They (police) tried to push them (protesters) away from these police fences and then we started seeing firecrackers being thrown at police and reportedly authorities started firing rubber bullets at the protesters. As a result, there are injuries on both sides and several people have been arrested as well."

But don't focus on the clashes which broke out after the march. Hundreds of thousands, mobilised by the 15-M movement (the indignados) and the PAH (platform against evictions) amongst some 300 (!) organissations have marched peacefully.

Several videos here: http://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/union-Marchas-Dignidad-toma-Madrid_0_241476099.html

[TheKentuckian]

2. Fuck Fuck the police, they should join their fellow citizens rather than opposing them.

Cops exist to protect 5 he system and should be viewed as the muscle of the enemy unless proven otherwise.