Hundreds of people took to the streets of Madrid to protest on the eve of the entry into force the Public Safety Act and the Penal Code, which is popularly known as the “gag law”.
The new legislation, which comes into effect tomorrow, Wednesday, has been widely criticized and has caused controversy since it was announced.
The “public safety law” provides for fines of up to 600 thousand euros ($ 655,000) for certain events or unauthorized acts of protest.
It also includes fines of up to 30 000 euros (about $ 33,000) for public disorder or obstruct actions of the authorities as the expulsion of displaced families, and that a “disrespect” to a police officer may be punished with 600 euros ( $ 667).
In this context, three activists from Greenpeace unfurled a banner Tuesday 32 square meters on a crane next to the Congress of Deputies against the “gag law”.
Another banner quoted the motto “protest is a right”.
The protesters believe that from tomorrow, Wednesday the exercise of the rights of expression, assembly and demonstration will be based on the interpretation of state security forces and the Interior Ministry.
The law was adopted on March 26 with the only votes of the Popular Party (PP), still in government with an absolute majority at the time.
Greenpeace spokesman, Miguel Angel Soto, said that “this law is not justified, as there is no serious public safety problems in Spain”.
He added, “it is designed to silence the voices fines criticizing the government’s and the consequences of the social, environmental and economic proceeds of corruption crisis, social cuts and rights and the privatization of public services.”
Greenpeace warned that “further infringements (…) directly indicate the forms of peaceful protest of some groups like the anti-eviction tides unionists citizen activists, and those affected by the preference that pose no safety hazard citizen “.
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