After having interrupted Minister of Justice Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón‘s [es] speech, shouting “Abortion is sacred!” in Congress, an organization called Femen took to the streets for the first time in Spain on October 12 in the city of Madrid, where Columbus Day was being celebrated.
“Of course, we will go further and of course we will continue protesting,” said Lara Alcázar, leader of the Femen movement in Spain, after being released from potentially being charged with disorderly conduct following the incident at the Congress. And this is how it has been.
Between national flags, military parades, and other patriotic symbols, women bared their torsos once again, carrying out their first official act in Spain, this time accompanied by slogans on their banners, as well as their chests and torsos, such as “I am free”, “Femen Sextremist”, and “My body is my weapon”.
The reason that has led the activists from this controversial organization to protest is the reform [es] that the Minister of Justice put forth that would end with the current system that permits women to terminate their pregnancies without claiming a reason until the 14th week of gestation. It would also eliminate the rights of minors at ages of 16 and 17 to have abortions without parental permission.
Femen accuses the Spanish government of being sexist, bound to ideas of the Church, and being misogynistic, emphasizing their concern for “the danger to the freedom of women in Spain,” and conclude that if morals and religion are sacred to Gallardón, for them it is women's decisions over their own bodies.
In conclusion, they have ensured that their next step is to open a Femen center in Madrid to create a more powerful core for the organization in Spain and allow the protests to continue to develop.
Below are a few comments from Twitter users:
Una ley del aborto especial para que se jodan las que no tienen medios Las que tienen dinero, en avión a abortar fuera #AlmeidaL6N
— jesuslopezvillaverde (@jesuslopezvill5) October 12, 2013
A special abortion law so that those who don't have the means are f*cked. Those who have money, on an airplane to have an abortion abroad
La verdad es que la ley anti aborto no es tan mala, si no tenemos dinero, siempre podemos alimentar a nuestros hijos con bocadillos mágicos.
— ♡ Cabronaza ♡ (@ZorraEnfurecida) October 9, 2013
The truth is that the anti-abortion law isn't so bad, if we don't have money we can always feed our children with magic sandwiches.
Votan a la gente que estando en plena crisis se preocupan por el aborto, que quieren hacer volver España de los años de Franco.. y así va.
— Ane (@AneVelez7) October 13, 2013
They vote for people that worry about abortion in the middle of a crisis, for those who want to bring Spain back to the Franco years.. and this is how it goes.
me LLAMAN FASCISTA si mis “pecados” son AMAR A ESPAÑA Y SU UNIDAD Y DEFENDER LA VIDA ¡NO AL ABORTO! LO SOY
— chesco veler (@mazinguer90) October 12, 2013
they CALL ME A FASCIST if my “sins” are LOVING SPAIN AND ITS UNITY AND DEFENDING LIFE. NO TO ABORTIONS! I AM ONE!