Guest post. Translated from the French by Tim Gupwell

(Copyright Uly Martin)

In their hundreds, the ‘black march’ of the miners, who have come on foot from the North of Spain, has reached Puerta del Sol, where it was welcomed by thousands of Madrid residents. On strike since last May, they are fighting to prevent their mines from being closed as a result of cuts in government subsidies, something which would result in the devastation of coal basins in the Asturias, Leon and Aragon regions. Passing before Moncloa Palace, Mariano Rajoy’s residence, they chanted “We are miners, not terrorists”.