Ephemeral re-squat before heavy police charges in a second night of protestscops stop reoccupation
On Tuesday evening a new series of demos converged on the evicted autonomous social center, the ‘Expropriated Bank’ in Barcelona’s Gracia barrio. A group of protesters opened the welded steel plates and re-occupied amid wild cheering, just before the Riot Police commenced a series of brutal charges, that resulted in 19 injured. Fresh demonstrations are called for tonight, Day 3.On the evening of Tuesday, May 24, there were demonstrations and rallies in several districts of Barcelona, in a second day of fighting the eviction from the freed space in Gràcia. Among others, there have been meet-ups in Sarrià, Sants, Raval and Manresa. A concentration in Sants of 200 people joined the group of protesters and continued towards the Gracia district.
In several streets of Gracia there were spontaneous pot and pan banging sessions by neighbours amid cries of rejection against the performance of the Catalan riot police
At Gracia, about 400 people concentrated in the Plaza of the Revolution and moved down the Torrent de l’Olla towards the ex Expropriated Bank anarchist social center.
Once there, when the march had grown considerably in number, a small group of protesters managed to open the iron plated facade with hammer blows, while the rest protected them and visibly celebrated the opening.
At this moment by total surprise the Riot Police attacked, which resulted in a large number of wounded and bruised by truncheon blows. In particular, several participants have suffered injuries to fingers, arms and legs. Late at night, the balance was, of at least 19 people with varying wounds.
The riot cops cordoned off the building to prevent entrance and the protesters dispersed to various streets and squares of the neighborhood amid continuing police charges. There was tension back at the Revolution Square, where some of the participants in the protest re-gathered. And again they were able to overturn and barricade with rubbish containers near the Expropriated Bank, heavily guarded by agents of the ‘Brim’, riot Squads.
From balconies could be heard cries of condemnation and insults against the Catalan police and in several streets there has been more pot and pan drumming as a spontaneous rejection of the police. Among many others, they chanted the slogan “they are not officials, they are mercenaries.” in Torrijos street a person has been detained by the police for a while. (But as on Day 1 the cops apparently had orders not to make mass arrests)
Then there was a strange incident, the subinspector Jordi Arasa appealed to the people to disperse due to the presence of an abandoned suitcase described as suspicious. Shortly after the bag disappeared and the bulk of the police presence left the area.
The protesters approached the front of the premises in dispute, where workers completed welding tasks with new armor preventing access. Today Wednesday at eight in the evening the brave occupiers will again hold a demonstration in the heart of Gràcia.
source: The Free https://thefreeonline.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/bank-re-squat-evicted/
