Today, people in Spain went on strike to protest, well, everything — labor, social and economic problems. “In less than a year, this country has taken a jump backwards 35 years,” said Cándido Méndez, general secretary of General Workers Union.
Things are bad here, that’s no lie. Soaring unemployment (about 20 to 25 percent, depending on what age groups you count), increases in tuition and cuts for public schooling. I’m grateful to be working here and to have a skill that’s invaluable — being a native English speaker.
The strike officially started at midnight, and while all I heard in my comfy bed were flares, fireworks, chanting and police sirens, I had friends at a bar who experienced something different. The bar owners told them they were closing at midnight, and so everyone was paying for their items and starting to leave. About five minutes before 12, a group of 60 protesters surrounded the bar, and some people entered. The people pounded on the windows, knocked over the tables and threw chairs into the streets. My friends quickly left and weren’t hurt, but as they walked away they heard the protestors light firecrackers near the bar.
I talked to a person about this violence and asked them how this helped the Spanish economy, how this made a difference. He said, “Well, why were the people in the bar? They’re buying stuff. On strike day we don’t spend any money anywhere. They should support the strike and join us on the streets.” He didn’t think the violence was wrong and said the picket lines work.
Though I support people’s right to protest in the streets, I support the right to peacefully protest. Hurting each other, smashing windows, bottles, etc. — what does that do? I understand that people are angry, but you have to find better ways to express that feeling and fix your country.
Today at 11:30 a.m., hundreds of people gathered in Vigo at Plaza España and walked to Plaza America. My roommate attended to “give his voice.” That protest was peaceful, but violent acts such as the one my friends witnessed have occurred.
Later, I met up with my friends Peter and Joe, who were at the bar last night. We wandered around Vigo and miraculously found a café that was open. Nearly every store was closed, because if stores don’t close, people will yell at the people inside, smash windows and break stuff. We were hurried out because the owner wanted to shut due to the protests.
So we went on Calle Principe, the main shopping street. There were about 300 people holding flags and signs, but not doing much more.
Calle Principe was trashed. Litter everywhere. A fire truck was on the street tending to a fire inside Blanco, a clothing store, which also had a window smashed. As we turned down my street, there was a garbage bin knocked over and on fire. Police had surrounded it, but it was crazy to think that this happened a few buildings down from my room.
After witnessing Vigo, talking to Spaniards and foreigners and reading news articles, I’ve figured out there are two different feelings about the strike. First, Spaniards who support or attended the strike think that this is the best way to show that they are angry with the government, want things to change and to have a voice. Many U.S. and U.K. people think that this way of handling things won’t help anything nor change the economic situation.
My view: People have a right to protest, but violence is bad. Why are you hurting fellow citizens? How does that help the economy? Furthermore, Spain is full of small business owners — clothing stores, cafe and bars — no big chains here. So how does boycotting (boikot, the Spanishization) businesses protest the government and its policies? You hurt the small people, not the big banks or “terrible” government.
I understand that people are angry, and striking is a form of expressing that. So okay, we understand that you are upset and furious, but tomorrow, after the strike, what are you going to do? Are you going to look for jobs? Go to the government buildings and talk to policymakers? Elect new politicians? (Galicia just had an election, and many young people didn’t vote, so what does that solve? I voted, so at least I made a choice on who I wanted to be in office).
Spain is in trouble, and if things don’t turn around, they will stay in a bad economy for many years to come. I don’t know how to solve the situation, but smashing windows definitely won’t fix it.
People at the afternoon strike.
“Thieves,” painted on a bank window.
Trash on Calle Principe.
A statue on Calle Principe with a strike flyer on it.
Blanco, which had a fire and a broken window.
The fire on my street.
A bridal store with paint splattered on the window.
Alia Valentine in Vigo 
Great post!!