August 17, 2011 – This event almost marred the flawless History of World Youth Day as a non-violent and peaceful international event if not for the cool and recollected pilgrims who just ignored the protesters’ verbal abuse, slander, mockery, and ridicule in Puerto Del sol where they gathered. The Violence according to reports started when throngs of Pilgrims passed by where the Protesters were gathered. Protesters began hurling slander and expletives at Pilgrims and even flashing dirty fingers on them. This baseless act of hatred and religious bigotry was caused by an earlier face-off between some Pilgrims and protesters. It was clear, the instigation did not start from the Pilgrims but from the Protesters. The Pilgrims only defended the Pope and WYd when Protesters began verbally abusing them. Some Knelt and Pray other where more active by reasoning out that they spent money themselves in order that the WYD may have a budget, contrary to the protesters belief that WYD was funded by the state of Spain, a fallacy which we cleared up a day earlier here at OTWOMD in defense against this baseless accusation.

During the evening, when protesters wanted to throw something at the pilgrims more than verbal abuses, Police cordon the Pilgrims pathway and escorted most of them out of harms way. This infuriated the protesters until pushing and provocation erupted bewteen riot police and protesters. Protesters became violent against the Riot Police and the security details had no choice but to break the rally. Police scuffled with demonstrators using their shields and batons in order to restore order among protesters who became violent. National Spanish Police arrested 11 protesters. No Pilgrim was hurt in the incident.

We are one with the sentiments of the Spanish People about the hardships they are experiencing, added to their suffering the lack of employment and financial instability. But it is wrong to take their anger against the Pilgrims who came all the way from their respective countries, who spent money for the Spanish Economy and who traveled from far away land to celebrate faith in their country. It is unfair to hurl expletives to innocent pilgrims who doesn’t know a thing about the state of their plight nor has a primary hand in the current situation of the Spanish economy. WYD was announced three years ago even before the Spanish Economy suffered. So it is unfair to blame the Pope and the Catholic Church for event. If this was an Olympic games, no one would protest, if there will be, not this violent and massive. The protest is not only about the Spanish Economy, it is also about some people’s innate hatred against all things Catholic. And the clamp down, although not humane and moral in the eyes of the Church, is nevertheless a practical necessity to thwart evil disguised as Human rights to free expression.

Below are the photos of the vilence that erupted between the protesters and the Spanish riot police at downtown Madrid, Puerto Del Sol during the eve of Pope Benedict XVI’s arrival from Rome.

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