Marco Trujillo & Miguel Gutierrez

MADRID, Reuters – Thousands marched through Madrid Saturday in protest of a planned reform to a security law that they claim will hinder their ability to perform their duties.

Protest against the proposed 2015 Citizens Security Law changes was led by police officers and joined the three major conservative Spanish parties. Critics claim that the law violates freedom of expression and the right to protest.

The “Gag Act” is referred to by its opponents as the law that allows police authorities to fine media outlets for disseminating unauthorised images of officers. It also restricts protests and imposes harsh penalties on those responsible.

Spain’s leftist government proposed reforms that would include the elimination of serious charges for taking photographs and recording police during demonstrations.

The changes will see police use less dangerous materials during protests, after many people had been seriously hurt by rubber bullets.

The amount of time suspects arrested during protests may be kept in custody will decrease from six to two hours. Additionally, fines will increase proportionally to their earnings.

Vanessa Gonzalez from the Civil Guard said to Reuters that they should leave the existing law the way it is, or improve it for the police officers and the citizens.

Ivan Espinosa de los Monteros of Vox, a far-right party said that there is “strong opposition against (the Reform) of this Law. This is against the law and it will not be allowed to happen.

Isa Serra spokeswoman of the Unidas Podemos far-left party said that the law did “a lot of damage to Spanish democracy” at an event in Cantabria, northern Spain.

Although organizers claimed that 150,000 people participated in the Madrid protest, the government stated it was closer to 20,000.