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Throughout 2011, the world was flooded with civil unrest from "the indignants" or "los indignados."
"The indignants" were infuriated persons condemned to poverty and social immobility due to the economic model. Poverty, political inertia and lack of democracy ignited the fuse of social protests in North Africa and the Middle East.
First was the ousting of the Tunisian president. After 23 years in power, the
President, Ben Ali, was forced to depart after a-month-long protest. This was unprecedented
Political dissidents were silenced as people were slaughtered by law enforcement officials.
These actions only encouraged anger in protesters who were disgusted with corruption, nepotism, and rising unemployment.
set himself on fire to protest a police officer's humiliating assault and withdrawal of his permission to sell fruits and vegetables on the street.
The young man later died from this act of self immolation, on January 6th.
The uprising in Tunisia inspired other countries, such as Egypt. The revolts in Tahir Square demanded the termination of Hosni Mubarak's regime. Thousands of Egyptian citizens began calling for his resignation in peaceful street protests. The dictator refused to listen and provoked a bitter battle between his supporters and his detractors that wiped out more than 300 citizens. The open wound was of extreme gravity.
However, the pressure to which thousands of Egyptians underwent his regime failed to open a new horizon for the Arab country. On November 20, 2011, protests began against the military regime of transition in Egypt.
January 27, 2011. Sixteen thousand people protested peacefully against the 31 year regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen, one of the most impoverished Arabic countries. On November 23, 2011, Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, abdicates his authority and promises never to return. February 13, 2011, began protests in Somalia, Iran and Bahrain.
On February 15, 2011, Libyan protesters oppose the nearly 42 year regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Demonstrations against Gaddafi, were violently repressed by Gaddafi forces in Benghazi. On March 31, 2011, NATO is responsible for the zone of exclusion in Libya, and bomb to protect civilians from the attacks of Muammar Gaddafi's loyal troops.
In September 2011, the 'National Transitional Council' in Tripoli and Benghazi
are internationally recognized (also recognized by United Nations) as the legitimate Libyan Government.
Finally, on October 20, 2011, Libyan rebels captured and assassinated Muammar Gaddafi in Sirteleader. His son, Mutassim Gaddafi, was also executed.
March 25, 2011, on a 'Friday of glory', tens of thousands of people take to the streets to protest a full scale nationwide uprising of Syria.
There were protests in Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Homs, Latakia and Daraa.
On November 12, 2011, Syria is suspended from the Arab League for using excessive violence against protesters. It is estimated that at least 3,500 people have died at the hands of the Syrian security forces.
Spain. On March 30, the first youth protest took place.
On April 7, born in the university environment, the platform 'Youth Without A Future', organized a march in Madrid against the economic crisis.
On May 15, tens of thousands of people fill the streets of Madrid calling for a regeneration of policy and a change in the current democratic system. The platform called the demonstration, "Real Democracy NOW" (Democracia Real YA) and this in turn triggers the movement '15-M.'
At the end of the demonstration, dozens of people are
gathered at a sit-in at the Plaza de Callao that flows into a series of clashes with the police and settles with 18 detainees. That same evening in the Puerta del Sol, "los indignados" commenced a spontaneous camping while insisting their protest is nonpartisan.
On the dawn of May 17, police evicted the encampments in Puerta del Sol and reported that the demonstration was dissolved with violence, despite the peaceful resistance. That same afternoon, thousands of people occupied the square of the Puerta del Sol, summoned by social networks. The rally cry was "This is only the beginning."
Following this, hundreds of people start a new camp that will last more than three weeks. The 18 arrested earlier were freed from charges after the demonstration.
The fury of Madrid, which becomes stronger, spreads to several Spanish cities: Barcelona, Seville, Zaragoza, and Valencia, whom also begin camping.
The world mimics Spain, as demonstrations commence for the next few days against the embassies and Spanish consulates in cities such as London, Florence Budapest, Vienna, Buenos Aires, Montpelier and New York.
On May 26, The '15-M' movement decides to respond to the clear list of demands. The general Assembly held in Plaza del Sol, reaches a minimum consensus to discuss four lines that are considered 'representing the civic outrage'.
These four ideas are: electoral reform, the effective separation of public powers, the fight against political corruption and the creation of new political and social mechanisms for citizens to address the government.
On May 27, The Mossos d'esquadra and the municipal police of Barcelona forcibly dismantled Plaza de Cataluña's camp. Police actions leave more than one hundred wounded of whom thirty are police officers.
On 28 May, the movement is structured by the districts and municipalities in Madrid. On May 29, in Plaza del Sol, the 15-M movement agrees to stay at the square of the capital, indefinitely. Outraged locals begin to study how to restructure the camp. On May 30, the platform that convened "Real Democracy NOW' (from the May 15 demonstration) announces they will promote a popular legislative initiative to change the electoral law. They also announce preparation for an international demonstration on October 15.
On June 5, citizens from several outraged Spanish cities gather in Madrid to analyze the evolution of the 15-M movement and explore new actions. Representatives from up to 56 cities proposed a great national march that would depart from every village and culminate with a major event on July 17.
'Los indignados' proposed "to take Madrid and redefine democracy." On June 7, The Sol encampment unanimously agree to break camp on Sunday, June 12th with a big 'Party of the Reconstruction.' Experts from all quarters of the assemblies agree to discuss how their next actions will materialize. This decision is in agreement with most infuriated cities. On June 12, four weeks after the protests have begun 'los indignados' from the Puerta del Sol break camp. They work all day trying to convey a single idea: "we will not go away, we will only expand." They reached great international mobilization on October 15, 2011, also known by the acronym '15-0.' It was the name given to a set of peaceful protests that took place on October 15, 2011, in 1,051 cities within 90 countries. These demonstrations were designed and promoted during the protests in Spain 2011. They were planned in their final phases with several groups, one of whom was Occupy Wall Street, and received wide dissemination on the Internet. At this point, The Spanish revolution is no longer a single movement from Spain.
In the United States, on September 17 protests in New York had been carried out. On September 27, it expanded to other states and cities such as Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Chicago. More than 20,000
people came to congregate on Wall Street. There were divisive meetings between the demonstrators and the police with the most memorable being the mass arrests on the Brooklyn Bridge.
In Chile, more than 10,000 people consisting of mostly workers and students marched in Santiago. They expressed their discontent for the student conflict that has dragged on since May of 2011. There were also large contingencies of people in
Valdivia, Valparaíso and Concepción gathering.
Prior to this, several demonstrations were carried out, such as the June 30 march with more than 400,000 people throughout the country.
The Dominican Republic and Santiago de los Caballeros. There was not much importance at the international level, but a milestone was marked. It was the first public demonstration of support for a global cause, not a regional or national one.
There are several 'los indignados' camps in in Mexico across different parts of the Republic.
Among them are: Monterrey, Puebla, Tijuana, Mexico City and Veracruz.
In Mexico City, after meeting for the Oct 15 revolution, 'los indignados; raised the banner of OccupyBMV and is divided into two groups: one camp in Coyoacán and another in the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores.
In Belgium, the 'outraged' arrived in Brussels and announced their demands to the European Union.
They marched through the streets of the European capital with a'peaceful and playful' march. It was attended by several thousand people from all over Europe and demonstrated a 'unit' against a system which 'oppresses the citizens'.
In France, the occupation of the seat of the Hotel de Ville in Paris (the square of the city) was a success for the local movement. Hundreds of useful contacts were collected to further the movement's development in the city.
Italy's busiest manifestation boasted more than 200,000 participants and was one of the most crowded of Europe. The most serious incident of the day, was caused by a group of 500 persons from outside of the Organization. Police intervention became necessary due to the outsider's violent infiltration. A total of 70 persons were injured.
Concurrently in Madrid, and in more than 800 cities demonstrations are held for a global movement to be an axis. Internet.
In addition to web pages created social networks will play a key role in organizing the protests. The call for '15-0' covered cities across five continents. In early morning, Asia's cities, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taiwan commenced marches, as did Australian cities. Banners displayed slogans 'We are the 99 %' as citizens from around the world united with a common message. It is the single largest mobilization in history on a global scale. The movement originated in Spain and it's extension to the Western world has already taken shape in the citizen initiative Occupy Wall Street, the same capital of the Empire. The occupation of Brooklyn Bridge with 700 detainees, undoubtedly marked a pre and post juncture against "the greed of Wall Street" and it's effect on the international crisis, cuts, lack of social protection and unemployment. For all this, from OccupySpain and Spain Anonymous, we encourage you all to persist in fighting for your rights, and to never falter... It has been illustrated that if we all unite as one, change is indeed possible. The year ahead will be the key to achieving our purposes. This is why we wish you HAPPY 2012 - A Year For The Revolution