Beginning with this issue, El Tecolote will profile a movement that arose in Spain on May 15, 2011, and reached the U.S. with the occupation of the Wall Street stock market on Sept. 17. The so-called 15M Movement or “the outraged ones” was born out of the passion and enthusiasm of thousands of Spanish striving for a change of mindset in addressing the current economic crisis. It has reached more than 150 cities around the world, among them: Brussels, London, San Francisco, Mexico City, Buenos Aires on Bogota.
On May 15 tens of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets to protest against the present economic system, which has resulted in an unemployment rate of 21.2 percent (46 percent for the countries youth), a 180 percent increase in housing over the past 12 years, and little hope in the future for young people. Even those with university degrees lack opportunities and many end up migrating abroad to start their careers. The political, economic and social demands claimed by the protesters demonstrate their displeasure with the ruling class and the economic situation, hence, they are called the outraged ones.
The protest, which took place simultaneously in 58 Spanish cities, included people of all ages, ideologies, genders and social classes.
At the conclusion of the protest at the Plaza del Sol in Madrid, about 200 people spontaneously decided to remain seated to discuss measures to take in combating the crisis. The police, however, relying on a Spanish constitutional law that states that all meetings in public places should be first reported to authorities decided to expel participants, even though the protest was peaceful.
This ignited the outrage of thousands of Spanish citizens (at first mostly young) the the next day. Chanting one of the slogans of the movement, “we take the plazas cuz they have always been ours, but we had forgotten it” they took to the streets, and this time to stay.
So—perhaps encouraged by the recent riots in African countries like Tunisia or Egypt, where the mass demonstrations of its citizens out in the streets brought an end to their regimes–the camp of the outraged ones began on May 16. It would spring up in most Spanish cities for a total of 28 days. Banners built with canvas and cardboard displaying “From the square of Tahir (Egypt) to the Plaza del Sol (Spain),” could be read in banners in several camps, which grew in size thanks to donations from neighbors, shopkeepers and contributions from the outraged ones themselves.
On the night of the 16th at the Plaza del Sol in Madrid, the screams and protests from the previous day’s rally turned into an organization of seven subcommittees stemming from a central commission, which sought to articulate the concerns of the massive influx of people.
In the communication commission, for example, people worked at creating a manifesto for the movement to spread its message to the media, which had shyed away from covering the movement.
The legal commission, meanwhile, was studying what to do if the police decided to vacate. The commission for respect worked on awareness and the importance of a positive image for the movement; it made sure there was not drinking alcohol at the camps (“this is not a ‘botellón,’” [act of drinking in the street in Spain] insisted several of those gathered).
Each of the committees assemblies were formed with people sitting in a circle, making decisions by consensus among those present. The movement manifested its horizontal nature, avoiding hierarchies and leaders, and highlighting that the opinion of all participants is equally important.
Throughout the night, the strength and desire for collaboration of the outraged ones springs from each of the corners of the plaza and they get organized with a rapidity that even they themselves are surprised.
“We want everything. If we do not ask for everything, they’ll give us nothing,” said a young man who addresses the people gathered through a megaphone. The police, baffled by the magnitude of the event, decide to stay off this time.
The next morning, given the widespread impact and magnitude of the protest, the media were left to guess who is behind the movement 15M. Students, workers, unemployed, government workers, retirees and housewives comprised an unprecedented heterogeneous movement that was going to be difficult to frame.
And the Spanish society itself, for so long immersed in the bubble of the welfare state, began on May 15 to demand a shift in direction at a global level, demanding greater transparency in actions from governments or the submission to referendum of budget cuts to social services among others.
More than 100 countries, among them Germany, Israel, Greece and Chile have already staged protests in the style of the 15M movement within their own borders, and are taking action to promote change in social consciousness among its citizens.
The Movement at Home
The May 15 movement’s appearance in the U.S. on Sept 17 took place in New York. Hundreds of people took to the streets to begin an occupation of the city’s financial center, which is still in progress as of press time. More than 2,000 demonstrators are participating in “The “Wall Street Protest.” The demonstration can be followed on line from the Revolution in Global Channel website Live Stream http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution
In San Francisco, on Sept. 17 about 250 people gathered at 555 California St. in solidarity with the occupation of Wall Street. Organizers, hoping to spread there message, to continue to protest https://occupywallst.org/
For more information about 15M visit: http://takethesquare.net/15M
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