Thousands took to basic Madrid’s streets on Friday, 16 October, the third day of an open-ended strike that began on Wednesday, 14 October. The evening demonstration followed a planned route from Atocha to Sol, where it was due to meet an encampment defending housing. Participants had set off from Paseo del Prado.
The Comité de Huelga Unitario de la Educación Pública de la Comunidad de Madrid called the march. It set off beside the Jardín Botánico and headed towards Sol. La Nueva España reported that around 35,000 people took part.
Organisers declared the strike a success. At an open assembly in Retiro, they discussed further action for the following week.
Turnout estimates remain sharply divided. Organisers put Friday’s participation at around 60%. The regional government reported 26.7%, down 5.5 percentage points from the previous day.
Figures for the first day also varied. CCOO put turnout at about 70%. UGT representative Chema Garrido estimated it at between 70% and 75%.
The regional government reported 44.6% on that first day. Garrido said participation reached 100% in some schools, while turnout in others ranged from 50% to 70%.
Garrido put average turnout at 50% to 60% for secondary schools. Regional education councillor Mercedes Zarzalejo described the protest as political and electoral.
The latest march is part of the open-ended walkout covered in earlier strike reporting. It was due to end at the central square, also the site of the housing encampment.
The encampment began on 26 September and had remained at Sol for 20 consecutive nights by 16 October. After an assembly on 15 October, participants decided to continue the protest and discussed taking the campaign into Madrid’s neighbourhoods.
The regional government, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, had stepped up legal and institutional efforts to remove the camp, which it described as an illegal occupation of public space.
