Orgullo Gay

A small bit of today's Orgullo Gay festivities here in Madrid

19-J contra el pacto de euro

Los indignaos took to the street again today to protest the Euro Pact.  Five marches beginning in different neighborhoods all made their way through the streets and to the Plaza Neptuno, just steps away from the Congreso de los Diputados.

Obligatory banner shot

Marchers along Calle Embajadores

 

Protestor cooling off in a fountain

Protestor takes a dip in a fountain. It seemed to work for me in B&W

Guy Fawkes V for Vendetta masks during the protest

Euro Pact handcuffs

The protest also included supporters for a free Palestine

View of Plaza Neptuno from Palace Hotel

Another view from the Palace hotel shows the police barricades blocking protestors access to the Congreso de los Diputados

Police officers and vehicles standing guard in front of the Congreso de los Disputados, at top left.

¡Indignados!

15-M ante el Congreso de los Diputados

    A few photos from last night's demostration.  Protestors from the 15-M (Democracia Real Ya) movement demonstrate outside el Congreso de los Diputados here in Madrid.

Flowers in Sol

Protestors in Sol, May 27th, 2011

     I spent a good part of my morning yesterday looking at the news clips, photos and amateur videos showing the police brutality in Barcelona.  Police were ordered to break up the protests and occupation taking place in the Plaça de Catalunya.  The videos and photos show the brutality in graphic detail.  Protestors were beaten, clubbed with batons, and dragged through the streets.  With this in mind, I was curious to see the reaction in the Puerta del Sol here in Madrid.  When I arrived in Sol, I had already heard the news that protestors in Barcelona had taken over the square once again.  The most obvious visual that I saw upon entering Sol was the flowers that each of the protestors carried.  Following the facebook posts of Democracia Real Ya and Juvetud Sin Futuro throughout the day, I had noticed their earlier appeals.  They encouraged the masses to take to the streets at 7pm and to bring flowers as a sign of peace.  Aside from this display of flowers, the crowd often chanted "Barcelona, no estás sola" and "Esta es la Plaza Cataluña" in support of the demonstrators in Barcelona. According to one report in the Spanish newspaper "20 Minutos," the brutality in Barcelona has actually had the opposite of its desired effect and  has managed to fortify the movement further.

One of the many protestors holding flowers

Flower and hands raised into the air

Hands raised into the air and some of my fellow photographers at work

A few more from Sunday in Puerta del Sol

There was a peaceful mood in Sol on Sunday, the 22nd of May.  To begin with, there were less people. As opposed to Friday night when thousands chanted and screamed their frustrations loud and clear, the election day mood seemed a bit more reflective.  Many listened to speeches near the entrance to Sol and Calle Carmen.  On the other side of the tents, many others sat and listened to prosposals read out by the different groups that form the movement (15-M or Democracia Real Ya).  One of the impressive and fascinating things about the movement is its organization.  For example, there are different sections set up among the tents to facilitate the ongoing protest: kitchens, a pharmacy, a library, and even a daycare center.  As of blog publication time (early Friday AM Spain time) the occupation in the Puerta del Sol continues.  However, each day it appears less people take part.  It will be interested to see what this upcoming weekend brings.

El Oso y El Madroño

Crowds listen to a speeches and proposals

People seated listening to the proposals from the different groups in Sol.

Child of the system

The Library

Views from the Partido Popular Press Photographers Platform

          I began my Sunday afternoon, the day of the regional elections throughout Spain, in the Puerta del Sol convering the ongoing Democracia Real Ya protest and occupation (more pictures of the movement to come soon).   After a few hours in Sol, I got a call that the PP (Partido Popular) was being projected to win Madrid.  I decided to head over to PP headquarters to check it out.  

          When I arrived I was surprized to see such a festive atmosphere in the streets.  A disc jockey stood atop a PP blue blacony as people danced in the street, waving Spanish and PP blue flags.  I spotted the press photographers platform and made my way up.  I realized that many other photographers had arrived before me and so I staked out a small spot behind a pair of other photogs and waited for the arrival of Mariano Rajoy, President of the PP.  While I waited I made photos looking down on the celebration.   At some point after midnight, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, Mariano Rajoy y Esperanza Aguirre finally came out, gave short speeches, thanked the crowd, and posed for photos. 

Sea of PP flags

The victors, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, Mariano Rajoy y Esperanza Aguirre

Rajoy speaking to the crowd