15M movement, from the outrage to the action

After the results of the Spanish local and regional elections which took place on May 22, the centre-right Popular Party was more than pleased with the victory, whereas the Socialists suffered heavy election losses.

Once the recount finished, everything was done that night, the elections were over.

Just the opposite was happening in the Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol. It could be sensed that the people from the called “Movimiento 15M” were intended to stay in the square, that movement just started.

People gathered around a megaphone used by citizens to express their major concerns, onlookers stopped to read the hundreds of protest signs, while many volunteers, installed in their makeshift stands, reported on the movement and collected signatures and proposals at the same time.

During the election’s night it was possible to walk through Sol square, as the protests of thousands of people in the days before the elections dissipated. Although the agglomeration decreased dramatically, several hundred people remained in the Madrid’s heart square and ended that day of protests in the camp with a silent sittingheld minute before twelve o’clock.

About twenty tents are still set up along the main camp, organized by working committees with no visible leaders and created spontaneously. “The intention was to organize ourselves, but we didn’t expect so much people would join us”, says a spokesman of the movement, who studied to install renewable energies and, after looking for a job in Spain without success, is determined to try his luck in Italy. Organization, precisely, makes up one of the foundations that support the survival of the camp established strongly on 17 of May as a consequence of the forced evacuation of the previous day.

Since that first time, committees were organized according to the needs of the camp. “As it has expended, the commissions have been extended. There is a children’s area, an infirmary, a mental health and natural therapies area with professional masseurs and psychologists...” says Sofia, a 26 years-old journalist who has lent herself to be a spokeswoman of the movement.


Although there are people ranged all ages, most volunteers working in the camp are educated young people who find in the movement an opportunity to show that they can organize and carry out their duties professionally.

The proof of that is that, in less than a week, a perfectly organized camp divided into committees has been created by the members of the 15M movement for self-management.

Thus, it has been established a legal committee constituted by lawyers to solve all sort of legal issues related to the protests and the camp; the commission of respect that is responsible for avoiding altercations and keep the square clean; extension to create links with other Spanish cities or overseas; the communications commission to inform the media; the information one to explain citizens what is the movement... in total there are about ten commissions which are constantly growing and changing, depending on the needs and the new proposals submitted by anyone who decides to go to Sol square with the idea of helping.

A different society, in Sol

Many say that in the Puerta del Sol has been created a mini-city. “At first it was a protest, but now it is a way to say that a totally different society is possible”, says a 19 years-old girl who is studying Occupational Therapy first year degree. She is working in the food commission: “we give food to colleagues working in the camp and then to others”.

Although poor naughty and very cunning people finds its place in the Sol’s camp (there are those who try to sell the food they get for free or try to get sandwiches without working in the movement), people’s solidarity is the protagonist. “If we need spoons, half an hour later we have lots of them”. And all this without money involved, “there are many people, of all kinds, who bring food. Everything works through donations, which is the only thing we accept. Sometimes we have to say not to people who want to give us more food, because we have plenty”.

Others try to give money, however, they have always the same answer: “we only accept donations ‘in kind’ so doesn’t get us wrong”.

The committees, in turn, are divided into working groups, which collect the proposals of the citizens who pass through the camp. These proposals are discussed by each working group made up by anyone who wants to participate and, after being unanimously approved, they are voted at the general meeting which takes place usually in the evenings and with the participation of several hundred people gathered in the square. Everything said, is written up in the minutes.

"We're deciding what we want", says a volunteer. At the moment there is such a volume of submissions that it is very difficult to develop a common manifesto. "We're not overwhelmed, is that there are many people who want to participate. We will stay at Sol square, at least, until Sunday, and then we want to organize meetings in the neighbourhoods and villages in order to revitalize the local communications, which currently are very weak”, says another spokesman for the 15M movement.

They are organized, but what they want?

Despite having no manifests, 15M members agree that democracy mechanisms for citizen participation don’t work. That’s why they claim the use of public spaces as a forum for debate. "Politicians do not represent us, only represent the interests of banking", complains a volunteer. "We are very tired, very tired, we want a change".

Some say they cannot find a job because they are “overqualified”, others want to reform the electoral system because it promotes two-party system; all agree that is should be removed the privileges of the political class. “My generation has seen no prospects, but has been now when we have realized that the situation is really bad, that’s why we have organized”, says a 21 years-old boy. Another spokesman states: "even if you aren’t affected by the crisis, you should be touched; this is not only about what can happen to you, this is as well about what happens to people around you. Your neighbour may be unemployed. We live in a society, we are social beings and we have to fight to achieve an universal social justice”.

"I was just hoping that young people did something, it has been necessary", says 71 years-old, Eugenia. "We didn’t know what was wrong with young people, why have not complained so far, but now I'm very happy about this movement, it's about time!", says excited 56 years-old Vicenta. The two disappear into the crowd, leaving a crowded Plaza del Sol which has gone from being a transit area to become, in just a few days, in an agora to discuss, debate and propose ideas.

*Published in La Opinión de Granada on 25/05/2011