Upset over a so-called "gag law" in Spain, activists in Madrid took to the streets--in hologram form.
Opponents of the Spanish Citizens Security Law, which would make it illegal to burn the national flag and protest outside parliament starting July 1, set up a hologram protest in front of a parliamentary building in the country's capital Friday night.
The rally looked and sounded like a traditional demonstration--marchers toted signs and chanted-- only the throngs of people weren't physically there.
Hologram protest in Madrid against the Gag Law. "As we can't protest as free citizens, we protest as free holograms." pic.twitter.com/mjE9j4SBNe— Giedre P. (@GiedreP) April 10, 2015
"Despite the trammels imposed by the government, they will not silence our voices, and even if we have to turn ourselves into holograms, we will keep on protesting," writes NoSomosDelito, the organization behind the self-proclaimed "first hologram protest in history," on its website.
People across the globe sent more than 2,000 virtual images to NoSomosDelito, which translates to "We are not crime," to be used for the hour-long hologram demonstration, according to El Pais.
Dit staat normaal garant voor 30.000 euro boete. Maar hoe beboet je een hologram? pic.twitter.com/kjOoJy837u— Koen Greven (@KoenGreven) April 10, 2015
This isn't the first protest against the gag law, but it is the first virtual one. Thousands have physically rallied against it in the past, according to The Guardian. Breaking the law could mean paying heavy fines: up to €30,000 for burning the flag and up to €600,000 for disturbing the peace at demonstrations outside parliament.