Activists in Madrid protested through a hologram before the Spanish Parliament on Friday night (April 10) to speak out against an anti-protest bill labeled “Kick in the teeth law.”
The new law limits demonstrations to authorized gatherings and imposes heavy fines on unauthorized protesters.
A projection showing around 80 people chanting “No to the kick in the teeth law” was set up before the building as activist groups believe the law violates the right to protest, limits freedom of expression and gives more power to police.
Although it was watered down from a draft introduced last year, the new law was approved in December by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party's absolute majority in parliament.
Opponents say it still limits basic freedoms in a country that only emerged from right-wing dictatorship in the late 1970s.
Spain has seen a rising tide of street demonstrations and strikes against Rajoy's unpopular austerity program, including cuts to public health and education, but the protests have been mostly peaceful.