Police Officer Knocks Down Retired Teacher at Valencia Protest — Footage Sparks Outrage

On 31 May in Valencia, during a teachers' rally outside the Ministry of Education building, a police officer forcefully pushed a woman and knocked her to the ground. The incident sparked a wave of outrage within the teaching community. Video footage of what happened quickly spread across social media.

According to teachers' unions, the victim is a retired teacher. After the officer pushed her in the back and she fell to the ground, she required medical attention for a broken nose. She also needed stitches to her chin. Witnesses surrounded the officer and shouted "Shame!" at him.

The government delegation in the Valencian Community described the officer's actions as "unacceptable" and announced the launch of an investigation to identify those responsible. The department stressed that throughout the three weeks of the strike, the police's interaction with the unions had been "exemplary," and expressed regret that this incident might overshadow the work done.

The incident was condemned by the DEP-PV association of headteachers from 420 schools, as well as by representatives of the Compromís, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, and Podemos parties, who demanded explanations from the government.

The incident took place during the ninth round of negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the teachers' unions. The meeting ended without result. Three of the five unions (STEPV, CC OO, and UGT) refused to leave the building and demanded a return to discussions on the question of salaries, which the Ministry considered closed following an agreement with CSIF and ANPE.

Outside the building, hundreds of teachers chanted "Consellera, obri la barrera" ("Minister, open the gate"), as the main entrance to the building was closed on Sunday. Some of the protesters sat down on the roadway, blocking an ambulance bus, while others formed a human chain around the department building.

At around 10:30 PM, Education Minister Carmen Ortí informed union representatives that the salary issue would not be reconsidered and demanded that they leave the premises. At first the unions announced their intention to stay, which was met with cheers from those gathered outside. However, closer to midnight, according to union members, they were issued an official warning of "criminal consequences." After this, they left the building and joined the protesters in the street.

The indefinite strike of state school teachers in the Valencian Community has now been going on for more than three weeks.