The general secretary of CCOO, Unai Sordo, has described the intervention by the Police during the riots and protests of the past 11 November, called in connection with the general strike, as “absolutely regrettable” and “disproportionate”.
As he has denounced, the actions of the officers prevented the union from carrying out its work normally, which is why he has demanded that “responsibilities be clarified” for what happened, also within the framework of a demonstration that he has described as “absolutely peaceful”. He has also focused on the absence of effective mechanisms to supervise and control the conduct of the police.
The top head of CCOO has explained that the organization is collecting testimonies and evidence, and that next week it will detail the measures it will take. He has also advanced that what happened will be thoroughly investigated and that they will demand responsibilities for the conduct of the State security forces and bodies.
Along the same lines, the general secretary of CCOO Madrid, Paloma López, has launched into the actions of the National Police during the strike day and regretted that trade union work was obstructed. “It’s a shame that the Police are roaming around at will and that there is no way to be able to control them,” she said before taking part in the 50th anniversary event of the union in the capital.
López especially underlined what happened in the afternoon during a march which, as she has emphasized, was “absolutely peaceful”, and she insisted on the need to “clarify responsibilities,” not only for a specific episode, but for the overall dynamic of the way the Police function.
On Wednesday night, the tension moved to Gran Vía after the demonstration about housing, with police charges in the vicinity of Plaza de España and the arrest of four people accused of assaulting authority and public disorder.
Around 21:00, when the march was facing its final stretch, a police cordon blocked access to the area around Plaza de España. For approximately half an hour, and according to accounts provided to Europa Press by various sources present, officers and demonstrators remained face to face without incidents, in a climate of tense calm.
However, when that police cordon broke open there were heavy charges, with officers trying to prevent any attempt at a disturbance and to stop the throwing of objects. In that context, the Police used pepper spray against the concentrated.