Protest!!

Along with most other European countries, Spain is experiencing an ‘economic crisis’ with rising job losses and a rising cost of living; the government’s main reaction to the crisis has been to drastically cut funding to the public sector with what they call “reforms”.  Public reaction against these is visible everywhere and in all cities of any size there are regular protests; as well as nation-wide strikes being organised pretty regularly and supported by various groups.  

As seems to be the case in many countries, the issues - including schools not being able to afford water or heating for their pupils and hospitals losing staff – often get clouded by reporting of the struggle between protesters and police. This is convenient for the government as it means that they can ignore the protesters; who in turn may become fixated by their fight against the police (by no means the real wielders of power).

However, this is not the only perception of protests in Spain.  During the Las Fallas festival, we participated in some of the daily protests which occurred at one of the Fallas’ largest events in the main square outside the government building. The protest was simply people waving red leaflets at the various members of the government appearing on the balcony overlooking the square; banging drums and generally letting it be known that although the Valencian government may hope that under the excitement of the Fallas the people will forget the cuts; they haven’t.  Also being waved were books – a symbol of the anti-cuts movement and presumably a dig at the government that such obviously detrimental and rather silly policies being flung about mean that the members really should be reading more - if they can read.  

The response on these days when we were there was for police to instruct the little street-cleaning vehicles to drive directly into the crowd of protesters – a clear message, if ever there was one! All was taken in good humour with ironic cheers for the street-cleaner drivers (dispelling any hopes that they would divert public anger)) and relationships with the watching police very civil.

We also saw a very angry lady marching into the crowd of protesters, shouting and trying to steal placards and instruments, and generally acting like she wanted to fight everyone she encountered. The reaction to this was very interesting; everyone she tried to provoke was very calm, smiling, and simply told her to go away. If she was one of the agent provocateurs, used by the police to provide a catalyst for violence, the provocation was unsuccessful. Then again, she could easily have simply been an avid supporter of the cuts and all of the opportunities they will bring.