Madrid , Spain ( CNN ) -- Large protests outside the Catalan regional Parliament in Barcelona on Wednesday left 36 people slightly injured , including 12 regional police officers , a spokeswoman for the Catalan regional ambulance service SEM told CNN . Of the 24 protesters injured , three were sent to hospital , said the spokeswoman , who by custom is not identified . The demonstrators gathered outside the Catalan Parliament to protest the debate inside on the 2011 budget , which many expect to result in further economic austerity measures in Catalonia . A spokeswoman for the Mossos regional police force said there had been injuries to protesters and the police but she could not immediately provide specifics . The Catalan regional president , Artur Mas , arrived at Parliament in a police helicopter along with several regional members of Parliament , the police spokeswoman said . But various elected politicians who entered by car or on foot to the sealed-off parliamentary grounds were jostled or heckled by the protesters , and some were spray painted with the color red , Spanish media reported . Spain is gripped by a deep economic crisis with 21 % unemployment nationwide , and 42 % unemployment for young people . The Catalan Parliament protests were seen as part of the so-called May 15 movement of demonstrations that have sprung up across Spain since last May 15 , including tent cities in some emblematic public squares in various Spanish cities . Various Spanish political leaders criticized the protesters on Wednesday for trying to disrupt the normal parliamentary activities which they said are fundamental to a democracy , Spanish media reported .
Protests leave 36 people injured in Barcelona . Protesters are upset over anticipated austerity measures . The protests have been going on for weeks and the police presence has increased dramatically since last week when a group of about 100 protesters were arrested after blocking traffic at Barcelona's main train station.