"We are standing in solidarity with the Spanish people and their fight for dignity"

Published on Friday, 28 March 2014 12:25

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The struggle to maintain human dignity is the final barrier against the neoliberal and neoconservative offensive that threatens human and civil rights, alike.

The «Marches for Dignity» are the collective response of the Spanish people against the policies of austerity that have destroyed their country. Millions have joined to protest against ballooning unemployment, bank foreclosures on their homes, pension cuts, shrinking benefits and the privatization of state assests, which serve business interests only and deprive the state of revenue. The protesters are united against the politicians and their policies that are responsible for decimating social cohesion across Europe.

When we speak of maintaining human dignity, we of course include women’s rights. The right to choose is a basic right. The attempts by the Rajoy government to outlaw abortions threaten to return Spain to the dark years of history, where prior to 1978, abortions were considered a crime punishable by jailtime. We should not allow this to happen again - we stand united in solidarity with Spanish women.

The struggle of the Spanish people is common to us all: for the Greek, Portuguese and Cypriot people seeking to regain their national sovereignty, and for the lives and dignity of citizens regardless of where they may live—in the North or the South, in the East or the West. It is our collective struggle/fight for democracy and prosperity throughout Europe.

We will see the results of the grassroots movements and citizen initiatives against neoliberalism and austerity come May, in the European elections. The policies currently in place can and must change: the will of the voters is the only way to bring a decisive end to austerity, once and for all.

These upcoming elections are of unprecedented importance: we are voting for our lives and our future. For this reason, we must all take a stand--so that we don’t allow others to decide what’s best for our lives.

This May, let your voice be heard: Vote for the European Left!

This statement was originally published in Spanish in Publico.es