PUBLIC BACKLASH AS A RESULT OF PROTEST POLICING IN PANDEMIC-AFFECTED SPAIN

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, research into the process of democratic backsliding in the states of the EU has been intensified even more than ever before. After the initial shock connected with the crisis and getting used to the new situation, more and more protests began to appear in opposition to the security measures introduced by the government. In addition, many countries have extended the catalog of powers of the security services that they could use against people who did not comply with the restrictions introduced. The article focuses on society activities in the form of protests in Spain during the first month of the pandemic, from 11 March 2020 when it was officially announced by the WHO to 31 March 2020. The analysis will answer the following questions: what issues were raised during the protests, what was their purpose? What groups protested in March 2020? Were they peaceful protests or riots, and what were their dynamics of change from peaceful to violent events? What action did the police take against the protesters? The method used in the article is the qualitative method of source analysis. In conclusion, the escalated force policing protest took place 4 times, translating into riots. Protesters took to the streets 34 times in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, and 17 times it was about other issues that were not directly related to the pandemic.