Video: Spanish police attack and injure seven journalists

[BelgianMadCow]

found at Roarmag.

I don't know about you, but this looks like deMOCKracy. Beating journalists and barring them from such scenes is scary stuff.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Ok, as a descendant of Spaniards who lived in Spain for many years...

1. Spanish people protest weekly. The Spanish are tough people and protest anything they feel like. I'm kinda proud of that, but the fact is that they protest all the time, and the press does cover the protests. In Spain, protests are not treated the same way they are here.

2. This was an unplanned protest. No permits were sought. Try that here.

3. This particular protest was called, "Rodea la Moncloa." The Palace of The Moncloa is like The White House, in that it houses whoever is the prime minister there (which would be like the president is here). Rodea means to surround. I would venture to say that if a group here surrounded The White House and blocked entrances and exits, quite a few of the protestors would be dead.

4. Roarmag provided zero explanations. Why would they even post a video and give no explanations?

[BelgianMadCow]

2. 5. They were attacking press

Which leaves only the 4 th point you mention standing.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. The press was in the middle capturing the action of protestors blocking The

Moncloa, the residence of the minister, because in Spain, newspapers DO report all protests, unlike here. And you expect them to... do what? Say, "Hey guys, protestors, and the press filming all this, would you be ever so kind as to move a little further away from the entrances and exits?"

And their response would've been? Want to hear it?

[BelgianMadCow]

3. PS: you call this giving no explanations?

http://roarmag.org/2014/03/authoritarianism-state-of-control/ is what Jerome Roos linked to in his first sentence. I didn't check because I've followed Spain for years.

I think it provides adequate context.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. It doesn't explain what was seen in the video

It just shows the video, then goes on to say that the entire world is turning fascist.

I'm as anti-fascist and anti-corporatist as they come, but goodness, to use a video of a protest in Spain and explain nothing about it just got me all flustered.

Never mind. I guess it struck a personal and very Spanish nerve.

[BelgianMadCow]

6. That's true - and sorry if I struck a nerve

if that nerve is "hell NO, Spain won't turn fascist", then I totally welcome that sentiment.
My opinion is different, but only yesterday I said to a classroom: they (the troika) have picked the wrong people in Spain. Best pupils in EU class, and way to proud to be bullied at infinity. Maybe your "nerve" is an illustration of that.

What do you think about the spanish anti-protest laws? 600.000 euro max fine for calling for a protest in front of government buildings (not just the local "White Houses) and years in prison?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. Spain won't. Spain is a tough country of tough people. It wasn't when it was hyper-religious

The Spanish are more highly educated than the average American. I know that's going to sound horrible, but it's true. Even a cab driver in Spain knows more about his country and our country's current events.

Also, even the fascists in Spain are more sensible than the GOP here. For ex., they are more cautious in what they say and what they do. Here? The GOP is open about its fascism.

And lastly, religion is capable of doing a lot of damage to countries. It brought fascism to Spain, and look around the U.S. and see how much damage religion has done here. Christianity has been in bed with the GOP for 30+ years, becoming the right hand of the GOP. It turned people into sheep, and has nearly destroyed our country as a result.