Last July 1, the controversial Protection of Public Safety Bill (Ley de Protección de la Seguridad Ciudadana), also known as ?gag law? (ley mordaza), the reform of the Criminal Code, and the anti jihadist law, came into force. All these changes are highly restrictive and are making us go more than 40 years back in time in order to live up the experience of today?s life without the liberties achieved after so many years of struggle.
Both the cizitens and law experts consider these recently enacted laws as ?out of proportion? and pose a ?serious threat to democracy and the freedom of assembly, speech and information, which affects Spanish citizens and preys on immigrants who, from now on, will be deported on the spot.?
Much has been written on the Gag Law, whose gestation began after the creation of the May 15 Movement and was enacted by the Government?s majority in Parliament. It was rejected by the remaining political parties which have appealed before the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court has finally admitted the appeal. However, despite thousands of protests, worldwide criticism and the constitutional complaint, this ignominious law is already in force. It directly affects us all who work in the street as we do our interventions in public spaces, without permits, expressing political views, and spreading them over the Internet.
For all these reasons, we thought the best we could do was to take to the streets on the same day these laws came into for...