Anti-papal rally will be held before pope's arrival but plans still sketchy

[xchrom]

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Anti-papal/rally/will/be/held/before/pope/s/arrival/but/plans/still/elpepueng/20110812elpeng_9/Ten

World Youth Day 2011 pilgrims will have to share space in the center of Madrid with protestors who believe Pope Benedict XVI's visit is a waste of public money.

On Wednesday, thousands of demonstrators will march from Tirso de Molina square under the slogan: "From my taxes, zero to the pope." The march will pass through the central Puerta del Sol, but it won't end there, as organizers originally requested.

On Thursday, the government's deputy delegate in Madrid, Ricardo García, met with representatives of the organizing committees to look for alternative routes for their march. The demonstration is being sponsored by Secular Europe, the Madrid Association of Atheists and Free Thinkers (AMAL) and Christian Networks. Luis Vega, from AMAL, said that the 15-M movement leaders have met with them. "They came to us, we didn't go to them. But we would be thrilled if they took part," he said.

The government delegate on Monday rejected three proposals for the anti-papal rally, leaving organizers threatening to go ahead with their demonstration even without government approval. World Youth Day organizers said that they weren't against the anti-papal rally but asked the government to keep protestors away from the mass concentration of pilgrims.

[Gman]

1. And totally lost on the protestors

Is the fact that these kids coming to world youth day will bring many millions of Euros to inject into the Spanish economy which it so very desperately needs.