Tens of thousands of Spaniards protested in the streets of cities across Spain Saturday, rising against the country's austerity measures in a run-up to the one-year anniversary of the start of a movement that spread across the region.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol plaza, the birthplace of the protests against economic injustice. Tens of thousands more demonstrated in Barcelona, with smaller protests in other cities.

The protesters say they will continue their demonstrations through May 15, the first anniversary of the initial protests. Authorities say they would not allow anyone to camp overnight at the protest sites.

Unemployment in Spain is almost 25 percent, and half of Spaniards under the age of 25 are unemployed.