The 15M Indignant movement organised an unauthorised Epiphany cavalcade in the centre of Madrid to highlight the number of social economic issues that are affecting people in Spain today. Spain, Madrid 28th December 2011
The event progressed without incidents despite some tension between the demonstrators and the police at the beginning of the cavalcade.
The police wanted to control the demonstrators and prevent them from crossing the road at the Puerta de Alcala. A witness told me that at one point a demonstrator refused to leave the road and was pushed by a police office. The demonstrator required some first aid. I could see the commotion but could not see the incident in progress.
After the incident the demonstrator started shouting: Fewer police and more security.
Before the event started the police were recording the identity cards of as many demonstrators as they could. Even some members of the press we asked to identify themselves and their details recorded.
However, the Cavalcade was eventually allowed to proceed although it was unauthorised. Apart from a couple of police vans at the end of the cavalcade, there were hardly any police reroute. A few local police officers dressed in riot gear patrolled Cibeles fountain, but from what I could see they were kept busy helping tourists.
The cavalcade was meant to be an alternative to the official Epiphany Cavalcade next week. And the scope of the event was once again to highlight social and economic issues which are affecting people today.
The biggest surprise was the huge number of people who attended this event after a really poor public following of the 15M movement during the elections in November.
Hi MIrrorimage, thank you for
Hi MIrrorimage, thank you for your comments and feedback. I must admit I never expected such supportive comments from my peers. So thank you once again for your support.
Best Lawrence