On Friday, January 28, over 500 Firefighters from Galicia, Spain clogged the streets of La Coruna, Spain, to demand an end to the recent privatization of Spanish emergency services. The demonstration resulted in a battle between riot police and firefigthers, as police shot rubber bullets, tear gas, swung batons, and went to fisticuffs with the firefighters.

Last October (30), a larger demonstration was held in Santiago de Compostela (also, in Spain), complete with the presence of the three largest unions in Spain, totaling 1,000 demonstrators against the privatization of emergency services.

Firefighting companies used to exist in the U.S. and almost every early capitalist economy, until people decided that they were inefficient at putting out fires. Companies would arrive and place competitive bids squelching the burning home, while victims burned. They would also refuse to work together to strengthen each other, preventing the public from having better equipment, better firefighters, and more effective strategies.

The fighting in the streets demonstrates whose side the state will take. The police who attacked should have stood down, refusing orders from their superiors to fire or attack. When they attack, they left the Galician Firefighters with no choice but to defend themselves, while defending their jobs.

For the BBC Video, go to:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8488483.stm 

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