Spain was rocked by protests May 11 as at least 100,000 people angered by the failing economy and government policies demonstrated in cities across the country. The demonstrations marked the one-year anniversary of the May 15 mass uprising that came to be known as the Indignant Movement.
Demonstrations took place in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville and Malaga. Solidarity demonstrations in other European countries underscored the unity of workers struggling against extreme austerity measures. Spain has the highest unemployment in the eurozone, nearly 25 percent, and one in two Spaniards under 25 is out of work.
The New York Times quoted Javier Colilla, a 27-year-old university student living with his parents. Colilla, like many others, saw no prospects for a job after graduation, “We’ve had this crisis for four years, but it feels like it’s just starting.” Reflecting widespread popular opposition, he noted that cuts “targeting health and education, but rescuing banks are wrong. They need to find other places to cut.”
