AFP - Thousands of people packed the Puerta del Sol in Madrid hosted Friday at midnight by a "silent scream" to protest the ban, noting the 12 strokes of the clock one minute of silence symbolic ribbons of tape stuck on the mouth.
At exactly midnight, hit an impressive silence for a few seconds on the main square in the heart of the Spanish capital, crowded as the streets around.
The demonstrators, who occupied the premises since Tuesday when they planted a village of tents and tarpaulins, and have welcomed the truce that prohibits any political rally on the eve of local elections.
Then, very quickly, the seizures returned, amid percussion: "Now we're all illegal," shouted the crowd, estimated at 19.000 people according to a statement submitted to the agency Efe by a specialized company.
The police presence remained quiet, with only a few police cars parked in surrounding streets.
The organizers of the movement, born earlier this week to protest unemployment and the fallout from the economic crisis, had warned they were ready to defy the ban.
"We will stay on the site.This is not an event but a citizens' movement, had said Friday morning Juan Lopez, an unemployed 30-year and one of the spokespersons of the movement.
Two days ahead of local elections disastrous for the ruling Socialists, the government, very embarrassed, promised to act with restraint while "applying the law, which requires respect for the electoral truce.
Since Tuesday, the spontaneous movement brings together a mosaic of young people but also people from all backgrounds and all ages, unemployed, students, retirees, employees who took possession of the place.
Unique, colorful and pacifist movement, on behalf of the "right to be indignant," wants to be "apolitical" and denounced the collage stranglehold of the major parties on Spanish politics, social injustice, the "corruption of politicians ".
More importantly, it betrays the frustration of millions of Spaniards who face unemployment reached a record high of 21.19% and strikes nearly half the age of 25, salary cuts, fallout from the economic crisis.
The determination of the demonstrators on the eve of the weekend election, puts the government in a difficult position, forcing him to choose between a police very risky, or a flexibility that would surely earn him criticism.
"We will apply the law to guarantee the rights and freedom of all citizens," said Friday, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba.
The head of government Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has assured him that the government would show "understanding".
Throughout the week, protesters have gathered every day more numerous at the Puerta del Sol. The movement, to a lesser extent, has won most of the cities of Spain.And in a few days, it was structured.
A camp of plastic sheeting mounted on wooden structures and tents popped up on the spot, with "pit" dedicated to cooking, hospitality, health care, and also communication where any new "spokesperson" are trying to refine the message, sometimes blurry, of protesters.
In the queue in front of the booth dedicated to the signing of the petition of support, Maria Jesus Garcia, an employee of 40 years, told Friday it coming "because of unemployment. Especially the young."
"I will read the petition, and I'll sign," she said. "But they must continue after the elections. If they stop, it will be worth nothing."
