1st May: Alternative Demonstration

Members of the Barcelona student movement formed part of an alternative May Day demonstration which unified anti-capitalist activists against the current crisis.

Unlike the main demonstration, which is protagonised by the unions and ends in front of parliament, the alternative march took a route through the working class Raval neighbourhood and ended in Rambla del Raval (at its centre). As well as students, the block was composed of unemployed workers, squatters, immigrants and other militant anti-capitalist organisations. There were approximately 5,000 demonstrators.

The march started in Plaça Universitat with a performance of a television-headed preacher calling a heard of zombies (also dressed as nurses, construction workers, prostitutes, etc.) to worship money (in the form of a giant cardboard Euro and the effigy of a business man). At the end of the march the Euro and the effigy were burnt in front of the ostentatious Barceló Raval Hotel, which presides, with armoured windows, as a symbol of ruling class arrogance in the poor neighbourhood.

The march begins to arrive in Rambla del Raval, the Barceló Hotel can be seen on the left

Slogans such as “Against the Capitalist crisis, class war!” and “It's going to end! Social peace is going to end!” were shouted. Although there were no altercations with police, a number of banks and hotels on route were vandalised with smashed windows and “RAGE” painted on them.

28th April: Occupations and Demonstration

Today a demonstration was held to demand moratoriums in the subjects that will be affected by the Bologna Process in the next academic year. In preparation, students held a series of occupations in the city.

Video of the actions in Santander Bank and the ERC headquarters

A series of occupations took place in Barcelona today with these demands:

1. Moratoriums in all the subjects that have been adapted to the EHEA in order to open up a debate process regarding the reforms.

2. The resignation of Josep Huguet, minister for Innovation, Universities and Business, because of his desire to privatise the university system.

3. Amnesty for all the students who have been expelled, disciplined, fined or charged.

The university students – supported by college students and mobilised unemployed people – occupied the headquarters of Banco Santander (the largest bank in Europe), the headquarters of ERC and PSC (Catalan Republican Left and Catalan Socialist Party, ruling parties in Catalonia) and the University Commission. These direct actions were in solidarity with everyone who is being exploited and ripped off by the government's new “bail-out” package for the banks, which will give even more money to the rich from the pockets of the poor.

The Santander occupation began at 11am, when a first group of 30 people entered the unsuspecting bank, shouting slogans such as: “Not banks, nor companies! Get out of our libraries!” and “Like this! Don't take one step back! Against Bologna: Direct action!”. Once inside, they hung a banner in the vestibule reading “You colonise our education; we occupy your headquarters”. The squatters then sat down and held a class with a lecturer who was present. The lecture was about how job precarity, enforced by the extreme capitalism we are currently suffering, turns the worker into a slave. The occupants invited the bank employees to sit and enjoy the lecture as well, but they were reluctant, probably because of their short-term contracts.

The class was followed by a group discussion and a second group arrived, taking over from those who had to go to work. A group also gathered outside the door to the building, hanging banners across the building and dealing with the media.

Inside posters were made from the bank's propaganda and the entire bank (including a show-car) was covered in the movement's stickers. One girl, dressed up as a corpse, laid down in front of the car with a sign declaring that the invasion of private interests into the higher education system kills the formation of critical thought. There was some excitement when a group of girls wanted to use the bank toilet but were stopped by security guards and cashiers, a group of people forced the door open and the squatters were able to use the toilets for the rest of their stay. This situation showed clearly that, although the banks and other capitalist institutions value money more than people, the power to challenge them is in our hands.

The bank closed at 2pm, and the occupiers were told by police officers that they were committing an offense by remaining. However, there was no eviction and the students decided to stay until the 6pm demonstration, at which point they left of their own accord.

Another group of students, together with some 20 transport workers, tried to occupy the PSC (Catalan Socialist Party, one of the ruling parties) headquarters at 12pm. They were stopped from entering by the building's defenses and the swift arrival of the police. Outside, manifestos were read by the workers and students, communicating their problems with the Catalan government. Later, the police tried to charge one student with breach of the peace, on the grounds that she was responsible for the action. In the face of this, those rallied outside the building started to pass around the megaphone, each person claiming that they were the one guilty of organising the activity and therefore preventing the charge. The event was ended after an hour as the transport workers had to go to work.

At the headquarters of the ERC (Catalan Republican Party, another of the ruling parties), a group managed to enter an inner courtyard and later, by fighting with the security guards, the front door. Once at the entrance, a group of five chained themselves to the building and the others circulated information about the action to the public. The students planned to continue this situation until the time came to join the demonstration, but were interrupted by a police eviction. Once outside the building, the thirty or so occupants made a mini-demonstration through Barcelona towards the other protesters, blocking roads with a banner as they went.

The demonstration was attended by 300 people. As usual, the police presence was totally out of proportion, 17 riot vans followed the march and 5 more were waiting by the road leading to the government buildings. At best, this was a pointless display of force, trying to intimidate a movement that has already shown that it cannot be stopped by repressive state brutality.

The protest ended outside the University Commission in the centre of the city. A group of students, who had chained themselves inside the building as part of an occupation, came out voluntarily to cheers from the crowd and a communiqué was read denouncing the privatisation process.

18th March: Chronicle of the Night Time Rally Following the Eviction

8,000 people take to the streets to show their solidarity with the evicted students.

Following, the eviction of students from the rectorate of the University of Barcelona, violent clashes erupted between police and students. More than 50 people were injured and 6 were detained (although released that day due to media pressure). That evening, 8,000 demonstrators attended a rally in support of the students. They demanded the resignation of the rector of the University of Barcelona (Dídac Ramírez), the resignation of Josep Huguet (Catalan Minister of Innovation, Universities and Businesses) and that university buildings be kept free of police.

Police prevented the rally from entering Plaça Sant Jaume where the Generalitat government is based (the political seat of those responsible for the actions of the police). Plaça Sant Jaume is the traditional end of protest routes, where pressure groups symbolically read out their manifestos in front of the government buildings, therefore it is considered a democratic right to enter this public space. Running battles between incensed demonstrators and police erupted. Demonstrators made barricades in the streets of the Born neighbourhood. More than 40 riot vans of police attended the scene, a clearly disproportionate number. Students, pedestrians, tourists, the elderly, families with children and journalists were trapped at the scene by the police presence on the thin medieval streets and the closure of the metro station.

The exact number of injured and detained during the night is unknown. However, we can confirm that amongst those injured by police include a journalist from TV3 (national television station), two from La Vanguardia newspaper and one from El Periódico newspaper, as well as a number of professors and Administrative and Service Personnel from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. A 10 year-old child was also hospitalised following police brutality. A spokesperson for the Mossos d'Esquadra expressed regret for the aggressions.

>> See Video <<

Despite the police violence, our struggle continues. The displays of solidarity from all over Europe continue to multiply. On the 19^th March (the following day) a European wide rally protesting against the implementation of a European Higher Education Area will take place. We continue to occupy the Faculty of Letters and Educational Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and that of Educational Sciences at the University of Barcelona.

Manifesto read out during the demonstration on the 26th of March

Video of the demonstration

Manifesto read outside the ERC headquarters in Barcelona during the demonstration against the Bologna Process on the 26th March 2009

Note: The ERC - “Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya” (the Catalan Republican Left) is a political party which forms part of the “triparty” government of Catalonia. It is the political party to which Josep Huguet, Catalan Minister for Innovation, University and Businesses, belongs.

“The authorities responsible for the current conflict in Catalan public universities are turning a political issue into a public order problem. The protesters here today hold Josep Huguet, the Minister of Innovation, Universities and Businesses, responsible for this approach. We feel that he has done absolutely nothing to open up a means of dialogue regarding the future of our public universities.

It is an institutional failure that has become evident and manifested itself through the decision to use police to silence rather than democratic and institutional means.

The Mossos d'Esquadra (the Autonomous Catalan police force) violently try to surpress the voices that speak out against a university reform that wants to subject the university to business interests. Our criticisms and proposals are censured and manipulated with the objective of making the crisis in the universities appear to be the concern of a minority.

Despite the repression that we face, the movement will continue to grow even if we face the truncheons of the police. We are ever more and more: teaching personnel, administrative and service personnel, students, secondary school unions and new social movements.

Because of this we demand that Mr. Huguet reconsiders his position and stops ignoring the current unrest within the university student community. The conflict persists and the only solution is the paralysation of the implementation of the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) and the initiation of a real and profound debate regarding the future of knowledge and the university of the 21st century.

We are all here together to construct a new quality public university model made with society for society.

Huguet is the responsible politician, either he shows his face or resigns!

Huguet resignation!

Crónica de la Manifestación del 12 de Marzo en Barcelona

Fot.:David Datzira

English

[Estamos buscando la manera de traducirlo a otros idiomas, disculpad las molestias]

Hoy, 12 de Marzo de 2009, con un sol radiante sobre nuestras cabezas hemos llevado a cabo otra manifestación multitudinaria; cerca de 15.000 personas según la CAE - Coordinadora d'Assemblees d'Estudiants, o 6.000 según los datos oficiales que ya han devaluado los medios de comunicación usuales (como por ejemplo el periódico "Avui").
Se formaron distintos grupos entre las once y las doce de la mañana que fueron convergiendo a medida que transcurría la manifestación. Cabe destacar el grupo que partió de la UB-Raval con música y pancartas reforzadas. Al llegar a Plaza Universidad ya les esperaban casi todas las asambleas para empezar a movilizarse. El bullicio era enorme, una multitud de pancartas y banderas tapaba el sol radiante y la tensión iba in crescendo a medida que llegabanlos grupos. Aunque debería haber empezado la marcha a las 12.00h porque se estaba esperando la cola de la manifestación, ha partido media hora más tarde. En la Plaza Universidad a las once de la mañana había 12 furgones de Mossos d'Esquadra (la policía catalana), cada uno de los cuales puede albergar hasta 8 antidisturbios listxs para actuar en cuanto la orden sea dada. Una hora después dieciocho lecheras controlaban los accesos a la plaza y se cuadra ante cualquier manifestante, además de un helicóptero que estuvo siguiendo a los manifestantes del Raval hasta el mismo acceso de la plaza.
La manifestación empezó a moverse y bajamos la calle Pelayo hacia el centro de la ciudad: las Ramblas y Plaza Catalunya, un recorrido habitual de manifestación. Huelga decir que en la calle Pelayo hubo algún que otro altercado con ciertas sedes de periódicos cuyas oficinas se establecen ahí, comprensible, por otro lado, si tenemos en cuenta que dichos medios de comunicación han tergiversado, manipulado y tratado de "niños" a todo el movimiento estudiantil; no una ni dos veces, sino día tras día. Llegamos al núcleo comercial de la ciudad: Portal de l'Àngel, y nos detuvimos. Hubo un pequeño problema con la gente que por ahí paseaba, nada preocupante, y se volvió a la marcha. Era la 1.30, el sol seguía asando todas y cada uno de los cuerpos que gritaban consignas tipo: "Contra el capital, guerra social!", "Fora empreses de la universitat!", "Pla Bolonya, ni de conya!", "Bolonya privatitza, l'Estat ho autoritza!", con el inmenso calor había dos opciones: o desnudez total o cubiertos para no pasar tanto bochorno y contener el sudor.
Posteriormente descendimos hacia Urquinaona, ya habiendo sobrepasado las siete lecheras de mossos que nos habían estado esperando y también "decoramos" la fachada de El Corte Inglés con símbolos más que explícitos y alguna que otra gamberrada urbana de las que empiezan a ser habituales entre los grupos de aquí. Un poquito más allá, subió un grupo improvisado de gente a colgar un cartel: treparon por dentro del andamio, controlando en cada rellano y cortaron la lona verde que cubría la estructura con una navaja. En pocos minutos estaba el rostro de Tomàs ondeando al viento, rojo, negro y amarillo contra el cielo clareado del día y una ovación como una ola infinita de alegría.
Los medios de comunicación, como siempre, estaban presentes unidos a sus ojos acristalados para captar la instantánea de un día que no va a ser olvidado tan fácilmente porque ahora, 48 horas después, estamos soportando los efectos de una guerra fría, de desgaste absoluto. Todo tiene sus repercusiones.
Bajaron rápidamente los compañeros del andamio eventualmente ocupado y volvieron a permanecer en el anonimato de la multitud que barría las calles gritando indignada, sin poder contener toda la rabia por el trato que hemos merecido hasta el día de hoy. Una marea humana descendió por la avenida hasta llegar a Arc de Triomf (hacia la 13.40h) en donde se congregó justo a la entrada del arco porque más allá había un corro de prensa esperando verlos cruzar el emblemático monumento.

Según los medios "Desenes d'estudiants"

Fot. David Datzira
Dicho y hecho, agitando consignas y pancartas lograron traspasar el susodicho y en un instante la pancarta principal era una punta de lanza que arremetía con gritos de victoria hacia el corro de supuestos informadores. Es necesario remarcar otra vez el desprestigio general que nos han publicitado los medios de comunicación de nuestro país (y nuestra nación).
Ya pasado el ataque adrenalínico empezamos a caminar por los alrededores del Parc de la Ciutadella, sin pasar por los jardines lógicamente (es un habitual punto de encuentro conflictivo entre las autoridades y los manifestantes), además la cabecera tuvo que reducir el paso para que la cola llegara, como había ido ocurriendo: en los laterales de la avenida se situaron lecheras de mossos d'esquadra, en todo el tramo contamos unas 10. La tensión iba in crescento porque quedaba claro en dónde iba a terminar la concentración: en la facultad Pompeu Fabra, el mismo lugar en el que hace un mes exacto desalojaron violentamente y establecieron una comisaría improvisada en la recepción de la facultad. Sería necesario remarcar que el edificio está directamente relacionado con MediaPro,

[Los actos convocados en la Pompeu han sido trasladados al Rectorado UB]
Fotografía: Archivo Especial Bolonya

el rector J.J. Moreso avisó directamente a los policías igual que hizo en su momento el rector Lluís Ferrer de la UAB. La historia se repite, por lo visto su diálogo es unilateral y en vez de palabras usan las porras.

A las dos de la tarde llegamos en masa a la Pompeu Fabra (Ca l'Aranyó) y entramos tranquilamente al patio cercado por vallas, no hubo ningún acto remarcable; se dobló la pancarta acolchada y se puso en un lateral. La gente entró tranquilamente a la facultad dirigiéndose hacia un patio cerrado del recinto central con todo el material a cuestas. Una vez en el interior se asamblearon según facultades uniéndose en círculo para debatir qué y cómo llevar a cabo la noche allí. En un instante, hacia las 15.00 de la tarde, los compañeros de la Comisión de Comunicación estaban empezando a leer los manifestos y comunicados, aunque no se oyeran perfectamente debido a la acústica del recinto, lograron sentar los puntos básicos por los cuales se había congregado la concentración: la criminalización de los hechos de la UPF de hace un mes, los de la UAB (con su consiguiente exigencia de readmisión de los estudiantes expulsados), la moratoria de dos años y, por supuesto: el debate público y abierto sobre qué tipo de universidad pública se está implementando con el Plan de Bolonia.

Fot.: David Datzira

Mientras, en el Rectorado de la UB los hechos no estaban mucho mejor: empezó una "guerra fría" con los directivos del centro (Equipo del Claustro de la UB) por los espacios. El Rector Dídac Ramírez ordenó cerrar la facultad de Geografía e Historia (UB-Raval), impidendio entrar también a los docentes que necesitaban recoger sus pertenencias personales, en los extremos de la calle de la facultad se posicionaron furgonas de policía. Por si fuera poco clausuraron espacios fundamentales como el acceso al baño o la cocina del vestíbulo del edificio central durante dos horas de tensión durante los que las personas que habitualmente estudian en la universidad tenían que salir por los edificios secundarios (Facultad de Filología y Matemáticas); menos los que se habían quedado dentro del recinto, ellos no pudieron salir en ningún momento, la tensión había llegado al rectorado. Los estudiantes pensaban que el rector Moreso enviaría esa misma noche a los mossos a desalojar la UPF, pero no fue así porque la expulsión de los ocupantes se ha producido esta última noche. No obstante la angustia fue evidente durante toda la madrugada, las llamadas de "vienen los mossos" se repetían sin cesar de un lado a otro, hasta llegó a cundir el pánico por si en vez de expulsar la nueva ocupación se dirigían los antidisturbios al Rectorado.
A las 00.30 se convocó una rueda de prensa para poner los puntos sobre las íes y aclarar cualquier malentendido que pudiera habido haber para con los medios de comunicación. Se leyó el comunicado y posteriormente distribuyeron los espacios para reubicar a todos los estudiantes que pasarían la noche ahí.
La manifestación había concluido con leves alborotos habituales si se comprende la indignación de los estudiantes: han sido tratados como una minoría no representativa, por más que su sistema sea asambleario y de consenso parece ser que la democracia de la que tanto alardean los políticos no puede ser reconocida más allá de sus despachos de oro.