[Campaignforrealdemocracy] Fwd: Spain | Electoral Council Bans People's Assembly in Sol, Madrid

[Mark Barrett]

http://www.aworldtowin.net/blog/madrid-echoes-spirit-of-tahrir-square.html

  *
http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2011/05/banned-peoples-assembly-in-sol-madrid/
*
And see also:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/20/spain-protesting-angry-ones

**
*Subject:* RE: Democracia Real Ya (Real Democracy Now)

Here are some news and recent evolution (from PPS-UK's David Marty who is in
Madrid) that hopes it inspires all of us, elsewhere to do the same:

- The movement has gone from Democracia Real Ya to another one, more
ambitious: it is the creation of a people's assembly that will constitute
several workshops on different themes. The term 'participatory democracy' is
more and more used.
- The Electoral Council has declared this meeting 'illegal' because it is
taking place only two days before election day. The Council said, by a vote
of 5 to 4, that on Saturday, 'reflection day', organizers won't be allowed
to hold debates that will target any political parties. The goal was for
people on Saturday to present proposals that shall extend the framwwork of
these local elections and aim at the national elections next year.
- The self managed organization at the Puerta del Sol is just unprecedented
in post fraquist Spain: there are several groups, with a turn over system,
that are in charge of cleaning. Others are responsible for cleaning the
portable tilets that were brought here 2 days ago. Several neighbors have
gathered in order to bring free food and coffee to all the 'campers' who
spend the night in situ. There is a medical service made of several nurses
and one doctor who explained how he went directly to Sol after work. There a
couple of Pharmacies who gave free medicine to that Doctors and Nurses could
do their work. There is also a legal service with a lawyer holding a
permanency for legal issues regarding all sorts of problems (police,
immigration, unemployment benefits, etc). There is, at last, a day-nursery
for families to be able to come.
- There are several tents organized in different themes: sexist issues and
feminist struggle, economic proposals, environment and alternatives to the
use of fossil fuels, reform of the rules for politicians (here in Spain they
are untouchale, which is unfair considering that most of them are career
politicians), immigration and protection of their rights and there also were
several demonstrations demanding an investigation over the crimes committed
during the dictatorship, but have been ingored during the past 40 years (it
is believed that over 150,000 people disappeared during Franco's rule).
- Diversity is just striking: it can longer be said this is a youth protest.
There are senior citizens, families, unemployed, students, working people,
conservatives, apolitical people, north africans, eastern europeans, south
americans, etc.
- Several cities around Europe have organized protest and demonstrations in
support with Spain.
- Considering the attendance from this past days, that is working days,
attendance is expected to be very high this week end.

Feel free to comment on David's post on Znet:
http://www.zcommunications.org/spain-thousands-of-people-organize-a-historical-7-day-protest-by-david-marty

London Solidarity:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Democracia-Real-Ya-Londres/150053645063581?sk=wall
http://www.realdemocracylondon.blogspot.com

Galleries of what's happening in Spain can be found on the Spanish
equivilent to 'Metro' (20 Minutos):
http://www.20minutos.es/galeria/7473/0/0/protestas/15m/jovenes/

More Info on Ban:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/20/spain-bans-protest-ahead-election
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