Thousands of disabled people and their families marched in Madrid on Sunday against benefit cuts, joining Spain's swelling protest movement over austerity measures. Many were in wheelchairs. They carried signs saying "SOS" and chanted "Disabled people, abandoned" as they made their way through the centre of the capital.
The ruling centre-right government has introduced more than 60 billion euros' ($78 billion) worth of spending cuts since it took power at the end of last year, which have reduced payouts to Spain's four million disabled people.
"This is a historic day. Disabled people have never taken to the streets before. We're out here now and we're not going back," said Luis Cayo, president of Spain's Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities. Protests are held almost daily. Groups including teachers, miners, health workers and students have organised demonstrations against austerity, sometimes attracting hundreds of thousands of people. Healthcare workers in Madrid went on strike for two days last week and some doctors in the region are on strike for an undefined period. "The cuts are condemning us to social exclusion.