Rallies Greet Pope's visit
http://dervishcom.blogspot.com/2011/11/rallies-greet-popes-visit.html
MADRID, - Thousands of protesters rallied in the Spanish capital, Madrid, to protest the cost of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI a few hours before the Pope is scheduled to arrive.
The BBC on Thursday (8/18/2011), preaching, some protesters clashed with police after marching to the center of the field Sol shouting slogans. Earlier, Spanish police arrested a Mexican student on charges that he planned gas attack against the mass anti-pope protesters.
Pope's visit took place at the time of economic hardship hit Spain, although the organizers said the visit was not the state's financial burden. Until about a million pilgrims from around the world have gathered in the city during the six-day festival of World Youth Day (WYD 2011), culminating in a mass ceremony is open on Sunday next, led Pope Benedict XVI.
The Pope will arrive at Barajas airport, Madrid, on Thursday morning local time and held a meeting with young people at WYD 2011 on Friday.
More than 100 groups plan a protest against the Pope's visit on Wednesday night. They include 15-M movement, which opposed the government's strict austerity, as well as gay rights groups and others who oppose Catholic teaching. "We are not angry with the Pope's visit, which some people agree and others do not, but on this visit with the financing of public money, especially when many services are cut by reining in government spending," said 15-M in a statement.
The protesters marched to the old city center by shouting, "No Pope fell from my taxes." "This visit will cost a lot for Spain who is going through a bad period," said a protester, Rosa Vazquez (55), told Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Madrid, said the tension increases when the protesters tried to cross the square. When police tried to clear the square, they clashed with demonstrators. Some of them threw a bottle.
Spain is going through the worst economic crisis in decades, with 21 percent unemployment rate which is the highest in the European Union.
The committee said they believe the event will generate about 100 million euros for the Spanish economy by not using the taxpayers' cost, but the critics predicted, the event will swallow a number of cost countries.
The BBC on Thursday (8/18/2011), preaching, some protesters clashed with police after marching to the center of the field Sol shouting slogans. Earlier, Spanish police arrested a Mexican student on charges that he planned gas attack against the mass anti-pope protesters.
Pope's visit took place at the time of economic hardship hit Spain, although the organizers said the visit was not the state's financial burden. Until about a million pilgrims from around the world have gathered in the city during the six-day festival of World Youth Day (WYD 2011), culminating in a mass ceremony is open on Sunday next, led Pope Benedict XVI.
The Pope will arrive at Barajas airport, Madrid, on Thursday morning local time and held a meeting with young people at WYD 2011 on Friday.
More than 100 groups plan a protest against the Pope's visit on Wednesday night. They include 15-M movement, which opposed the government's strict austerity, as well as gay rights groups and others who oppose Catholic teaching. "We are not angry with the Pope's visit, which some people agree and others do not, but on this visit with the financing of public money, especially when many services are cut by reining in government spending," said 15-M in a statement.
The protesters marched to the old city center by shouting, "No Pope fell from my taxes." "This visit will cost a lot for Spain who is going through a bad period," said a protester, Rosa Vazquez (55), told Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Madrid, said the tension increases when the protesters tried to cross the square. When police tried to clear the square, they clashed with demonstrators. Some of them threw a bottle.
Spain is going through the worst economic crisis in decades, with 21 percent unemployment rate which is the highest in the European Union.
The committee said they believe the event will generate about 100 million euros for the Spanish economy by not using the taxpayers' cost, but the critics predicted, the event will swallow a number of cost countries.
