A Defiant 'Spanish Revolution' - The Atlantic

A Defiant 'Spanish Revolution'

May 20, 2011 | 263

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Since May 15, residents of many cities around Spain have been demonstrating against the country's ongoing financial crisis, its politicians, and its bankers. The spontaneous protests are the largest since the country plunged into recession in 2008, and they're made up mainly of young people who have set up camps in main squares across the country. Called "los indignados" (the indignant), the May 15 Movement, or simply 15-M, they are fueled by frustration with austerity measures, apparent indifference from politicians, and serious joblessness. Spain's unemployment rate for those under 25 stood at 43.5 percent as of February -- the highest youth unemployment rate in the 27-nation European Union. As Spain enters an election weekend, this collection focuses on some recent scenes of dissent from around the country. [44 photos (updated late 5/20)]

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Shadows of people taking part in a demonstration organised by the group dubbed "Youth Without a Future" in Madrid, to protest against professional and social conditions of the youth in Spain, on May 15, 2011. The text reads "They call this democracy". (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images)

Shadows of people taking part in a demonstration organised by the group dubbed "Youth Without a Future" in Madrid, to protest against professional and social conditions of the youth in Spain, on May 15, 2011. The text reads "They call this democracy". (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images)

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Demonstrators gather and shout slogans in Madrid's famous landmark Puerta del Sol, against politicians, bankers and authorities' handling of the economic crisis May 18, 2011. (Reuters/Paul Hanna) #

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Protesters gather at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, on May 19, 2011 during a protest against Spain's economic crisis and its sky-high jobless rate. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Protesters take part in a demonstration with a banner that reads "System Error", in Madrid, on May 17, 2011. (Dominique Faget/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Protesters gather at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid on May 19, 2011. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Demonstrators shout slogans during a rally in Barcelona, on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Spanish university students and youth groups were protesting against a youth unemployment rate of 40 percent and austerity measures taken to end Spain's debt crisis. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) #

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Protesters gather under tents at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid on May 19, 2011 during a protest against Spain's economic crisis and its sky-high jobless rate. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A woman takes pictures during a demonstration in Madrid, on Wednesday May 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez) #

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A man is arrested after clashing with police during a demonstration in Madrid, on Sunday May 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Pedro Acosta) #

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A demonstrator covers her eyes with a mock currency note during a demonstration calling for "Democracia Real , Ya! (Real Democracy, Now!)" in Malaga, southern Spain, on May 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jon Nazca) #

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A man waits for a bus as he stands at a bus stop at Madrid's famous landmark Puerta del Sol, May 19, 2011, during a protest against politicians, bankers and authorities' handling of the economic crisis. The graffiti on the glass panel reads "Indignation is not enough". (Reuters/Juan Medina) #

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Demonstrators raise their hands during a protest against politicians, bankers and authorities' handling of the economic crisis in central Valencia, on May 19, 2011. (Reuters/Heino Kalis) #

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A man reads placards stuck on the entrance of the Puerta del Sol subway station in Madrid, on May 19, 2011 during a protest against Spain's economic crisis and its sky-high jobless rate. (Dominique Faget/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Demonstrators, one of them wearing an Anonymous group mask, attend a demonstration in Madrid, on May 15, 2011. (Reuters/Susana Vera) #

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Tents and protesting Spaniards are seen during a rally on Puerta del Sol square on May 19, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) #

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Demonstrators shout slogans next to police during a protest calling for "Democracia Real , Ya! (Real Democracy, Now!)" in Malaga, southern Spain, on May 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jon Nazca) #

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Crowds wave their arms during a protest against politicians, bankers and authorities' handling of the economic crisis in the Plaza Arriaga in Bilbao, on May 19, 2011. (Reuters/Vincent West) #

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Demonstrators occupy the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, early on May 20, 2011. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Crowds gather and shout slogans in Madrid's famous landmark Puerta del Sol, against politicians, bankers and authorities' handling of the economic crisis, on May 18, 2011. (Reuters/Paul Hanna) #

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Demonstrators shout slogans as they take part in a protest in Madrid, on Thursday, May 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) #

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Protesters gather and shout slogans in Madrid's famous landmark Puerta del Sol, on May 18, 2011. (Reuters/Paul Hanna) #

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General view of the occupied Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, on May 19, 2011 during a protest against Spain's economic crisis. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A lone demonstrator watches over supporters of a protest against the ongoing financial crisis, politicians and bankers as they camp out at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, on May 17, 2011. (Reuters/Susana Vera) #

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Demonstrators in tents spend the night at Puerta del Sol square during a protest in Madrid, on Friday May 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) #

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A woman stands in sunlight during a protest in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, early on May 20, 2011. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Demonstrators sweep up trash in a camp in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, during a protest on May 20, 2011. (Reuters/Andrea Comas) #

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A couple shares a moment during a protest occupation of Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, early on May 20, 2011. (Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A woman reads a newspaper article with a headline that reads "The indignant are organized" during a protest at Barcelona's Plaza de Catalunya, on May 17, 2011. (Reuters/Gustau Nacarino) #

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Demonstrators shout slogans as they protest during a rally called by "Real Democracy Now" in Barcelona, Sunday, May 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) #

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A placard saying "be outraged" hangs above protesters during a protest rally in the Plaza Arriaga in Bilbao, on May 19, 2011. (Reuters/Vincent West) #

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Demonstrators fill Madrid's Puerta del Sol square during a protest on May 19, 2011. (Reuters/Paul Hanna) #

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Demonstrators listen to a speaker in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, on May 20, 2011. (Reuters/Andrea Comas) #

via theatlantic.com

There is not only the Arab spring. Revolution against the greedy few is worldwide and most are ignored by American news businesses. Have you heard about these demonstrations? If not, why do you think we have no press "boots on the ground" in Spain? Greece? UK? France?