Madrid - Countersummit

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday May 21, 2002 00:05 by zk

Madrid fights capitalism!

Once again capitalism met -this time was the European, Latinamerican and Caribean heads of State- to celebrate profit and to decide their next steps. European heads of State wanted to make it easier for their companies to conquer more poorly deveploped markets and destroy public industries in Latinamerica in the name of "free trade" and "development".
Madrid refused to keep silent. The FST (Foro Social Trasatlantico/Trasatlantic Social Forum), a platform of 70 social organizations, conducted resistance. A lot of cultural activities were held during the week and various events took place in the streets to let people know "Another world is possible.

The main event was a massive demonstration, about 80.000 people took the heart of Madrid, on Sunday. The demo left it´s starting place a little after 12 a.m., with a remarkable police presence, with a lot of noise and colour. A huge Palestinian flag (15x5 mts.) was displayed. Hebe de Bonafini (from the argentinian group Mothers of the May Square) and other southamerican activists carried the head banner.

Groups of people from Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala and other countries went side by side with spanish anarchists, communists and lots of solidarity groups, some of which came from other spanish cities (many activists from Galicia, Basque Country and Castilla...). At the end of the march Hebe de Bonafini, a spokeman from the Brazilian MST and other foreign and spanish activists spoke to the audience.

The demonstration was as peacefull as all the other events. No rioting or arrests took place. It was expected that more people attended the different activities, specially the call to block the summit on Saturday (about 2.500 demonstrators, 1200 cops...) but at least 80.000 shouted for Freedom, Justice and Dignity on Sunday.

For more info in english visit: http://www.lahaine.org