Enric Duran Giralt (born 23 April 1976, Vilanova i la Geltrú) also known as Robin Banks or the Robin Hood of the Banks is a Catalan anticapitalist activist[1] and a founding member of the Catalan Integral Cooperative (CIC - Cooperativa Integral Catalana) and Faircoop.[2][3][4][5]
On September 17, 2008, he publicly announced that he had 'robbed' dozens of Spanish banks of nearly half a million euros as part of a political action to denounce what he termed the predatory capitalist system.
From 2006 to 2008, Duran took out 68 commercial and personal loans from a total of 39 banks with no guarantees or property as collateral. He had no intention of repaying the debts, and used the money to finance various anti-capitalist movements.[6] In 2008, Duran released both an online article entitled "I have "robbed" 492,000 euros from those who rob us the most, in order to denounce them and build alternatives for society" (translated), and an online video,[7] each explaining what he had done and that he had left the country to view the reaction and consider his next move. This was also published in the free magazine Crisis, in Catalan, of which 200,000 copies were printed and distributed by volunteers throughout Catalonia. A second newspaper, We can! Live Without Capitalism was distributed on March 17, 2009, and a third, We want! on September 17, 2009.[8][7]
- ^ "Barcelona prepares for terrorist threats, anti-globalization protests at EU summit". Associated Press. 2002-03-13. Archived from the original (fee required) on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ Nathan, Schneider (May 27, 2015). "5 Ways to Take Back Tech". The Nation. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "Nace Fair.coop, la cooperativa que combate el capitalismo desde dentro". Diario Publico.es. September 18, 2014. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ Duran, Enric. "Fair Coop: Objectiu Planeta Terra". enricduran.cat. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ Schneider, Nathan (April 7, 2015). "On the Lam with Bank Robber Enric Duran". VICE. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "Robin Bank, héroe juvenil". El Mundo. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ a b "Enric Duran - video interview". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ "I have "robbed" 492,000 euros from those who rob us the most, in order to denounce them and build alternatives for society". Crisis/. 2008-10-17. Archived from the original on 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2008-10-27.