Police officer investigated for pushing a 68-year-old retired teacher to the ground during an education strike protest in Valencia
Spain's National Police have opened a disciplinary case against an officer who violently pushed a 68-year-old retired teacher to the ground during a protest in Valencia, as an indefinite education strike enters its fourth week.
The incident
On Sunday, during a demonstration outside Valencia's regional education ministry, a National Police officer pushed a 68-year-old retired female teacher from behind, causing her to fall violently to the ground. The incident occurred on Avenida Pío XII, a major city artery, when protesters attempted to block traffic. Videos of the push, which showed the teacher being shoved without warning while behaving peacefully, spread rapidly on social media, prompting witnesses to shout 'Vergonya' (Shame). The woman suffered a chin injury requiring stitches and received medical attention at a nearby health centre before filing a formal complaint.
The image we have just seen is unacceptable. We are going to investigate what happened exhaustively to determine responsibilities.
Official response
Government delegate Pilar Bernabé and sub-delegate José Rodríguez Jurado met with the striking unions — STEPV, UGT PV, and CCOO PV — on Monday morning. The National Police confirmed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the officer involved. Bernabé described the event as "totally incomprehensible" and said it tarnishes the otherwise exemplary police work during three weeks of coordinated protests. Both the delegate and the unions committed to ensuring no further incident mars the exercise of the constitutional right to demonstrate.
Political fallout
The push triggered a wave of political condemnation. Compromís parliamentary spokesperson Joan Baldoví called it a "savage, disproportionate, and absolutely unjustified aggression" and demanded explanations from the Interior Ministry. Compromís deputy Àgueda Micó registered a parliamentary question in Congress. ERC deputy Gabriel Rufián and Podemos leader Ione Belarra also criticised the government, with Belarra calling for the immediate dismissal of the officer and the resignation of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. Former Podemos MP Pablo Echenique questioned the need for an investigation when the video evidence was clear.
A completely unannounced attack from behind, absolutely savage and unjustified.
The wider strike context
The incident occurred against the backdrop of an indefinite strike by non-university public school teachers that began on 11 May. Sunday's protest coincided with a meeting inside the education ministry between the regional government and unions aimed at unblocking negotiations. The strike has now entered its fourth week, with hundreds of teachers maintaining pressure through demonstrations, sit-ins, and human chains around the ministry building.
- Indefinite strike by non-university public school teachers begins in Valencia.
- Hundreds of teachers protest outside the education ministry during a negotiation meeting. A police officer pushes a 68-year-old retired teacher to the ground.
- Government delegate Pilar Bernabé calls the incident 'unacceptable' and announces an exhaustive investigation.
- National Police initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officer. The victim files a formal complaint. Bernabé and sub-delegate José Rodríguez Jurado meet with unions.
