Franco redux?

[marmar]

What’s a government to do when the people take to the street to protest the way the country is being run? A sensible government would change policies to appease the people it is committed to serving. Alternately, a government could take Spain’s current approach, which is to start fining and arresting people for protesting in the first place. Yes, that will solve the problem!

Spain is showing signs of fascism with its new anti-protest legislation nicknamed the “Gag Law.” This past week, Spain’s lower parliament okayed the law, pushing it much closer to reality. Among the restrictions cemented by the law, punishable by a $700-37,000 fine:

Holding a protest without obtaining a permit from the government first.
Protesting the day before an election.
Insulting a police officer.
Burning a flag.
Photographing/filming police officers and sharing said photos/videos.
Protesting at a bank.
Blocking a home foreclosure
Assembling near a legislative building
Wearing hoods or masks, as they prevent authorities from identifying you.

That’s not all. Even peaceful protests can be shut down if police fear that the protest could at some point “turn disorderly” (left to the police’s discretion, obviously.) Oh, and don’t even think about appealing these fines in court. People who appeal these fines will be made to pay the court costs.

A quarter of Spain’s population is unemployed, with half of the nation’s young adults lacking a job. By upping the financial repercussions for protesting, the government knows it can scare away people who can’t afford to pay these tickets. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/28175-spanish-government-strips-away-protesting-rights