Judging from this video, the Spanish have retained a Francoesque approach to dealing with the public and the concept of free assembly. The attacks on these young people appear entirely unprovoked. The police are preparing for the arrival of the Pope.
I have not found any story indicating any investigation into these officers and the response of the young people (with the exception of the first woman) appears to be fear and acquiescence in the face of the abuse.
The police also broke up a “kissing protest” of gays and lesbians just before the Pope passed by. The protesters plan to kiss in front of the Pope in defiance of the Church’s view on homosexuality.
In my naiveté, I am not understanding how tax dollars pay for these various public-service positions, yet the rules are made in direct defiance of public interest and protection. What is the public’s recourse?
oh please, next you’re going to try to tell me the pope is an ex-nazi or something.
Honestly? …given my view in this cage, we’re pretty well screwed but, naively, I still hope…
Injustice Everywhere
The National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting Project
http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/
…and what Mike S. said so well…
You are correct Mike S. The Pope is a throwback.
Metro. Funny how that logic works, isn’t it!
So gay marriage is legal in Spain but gay kissing isn’t?
the Spanish Inquisition rides again …
Frankly the respect accorded to the Pope is way beyond his significance and is a holdover from the Roman empire, rather than the teachings of Jesus.
The police also broke up a “kissing protest” of gays and lesbians just before the Pope passed by. The protesters plan to kiss in front of the Pope in defiance of the Church’s view on homosexuality.
Geeze….and there is a suggesting in some experts minds if eye of the catholic church did not play for both teams…..
I will be waiting for the Pontiff to publicly criticize the police when he arrives in Spain. I better not hold my breath!
Spain has always had a bit of a heavy hand even after Franco. I expect the economic turmoil and the recent unrest will increase this sort of ‘response’ everywhere in Europe. As the full extent of the hopelessness the radicals in Congress have forced on us becomes more apparent we should expect similar actions & reactions here.
The evil leader, replaced by an ineffectual one, eventually replaced by a demagog followed by a police state and worse is a pattern we have seen throughout history & there is no reason to believe we are immune to it here in the US. The glibertarians and teabaggers have won and it does not look like we are going to pull out of this nose dive in time to prevent to sort of social unrest that will give rise to the demagog with the simple solution to all our problems.