On second anniversary of banned referendum, Catalan separatists call for independence
Record ID:
1434558
On second anniversary of banned referendum, Catalan separatists call for independence
- Title: On second anniversary of banned referendum, Catalan separatists call for independence
- Date: 1st October 2019
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 1, 2019) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS HOLDING YELLOW BANNER WITH PICTURE OF A BALLOT BOX AND SLOGAN READING IN CATALAN, "WE DID IT AND WE WILL WIN" THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS WITH PRO-INDEPENDENCE ESTELADA FLAGS MARCHING PROTESTERS CHANTING IN CATALAN, "OCCUPATION FORCES GET OUT," AS THEY HOLD A YELLOW BANNER WITH PICTURE OF A BALLOT BOX AND SLOGAN READING IN CATALAN, "WE DID IT AND WE WILL WIN" PROTESTERS MARCHING CHANTING IN CATALAN, "INDEPENDENCE, INDEPENDENCE" VARIOUS OF MARCH IN PROGRESS PROTESTERS MARCHING HOLDING LETTERS SPELLING "FREEDOM" IN ENGLISH PROTESTERS MARCHING HOLDING LETTERS SPELLING "PEACE" IN ENGLISH VARIOUS OF MARCH IN PROGRESS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING IN ENGLISH "STOP SPANISH VIOLENCE, NO MORE FAKE NEWS PLEASE ABOUT CATALANS" PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF THE EU COMMISSION OFFICE BUILDING TRYING TO DRAW THE EU'S ATTENTION TO THE SEPARATIST CAUSE POLICE VANS IN FRONT OF BUILDING AND PROTESTERS BEHIND BARRIERS EU FLAG PROTESTERS MARCHING HOLDING LARGE ESTELADA FLAG WOMAN HOLDING YELLOW RIBBON SYMBOLISING SOLIDARITY WITH CATALAN JAILED LEADERS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING IN CATALAN "FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS" YELLOW RIBBON SYMBOL MAN HOLDING BANNER READING IN CATALAN "FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS" AS PROTESTERS CHANT IN CATALAN, "FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS" PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING "CDR" (COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC" PROTESTERS CHANTING IN CATALAN, "FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS" WOMAN HOLDING BALLOT BOX LIKE THE ONES USED IN THE 2017 BANNED OCTOBER REFERENDUM BARRIERS IN FRONT OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT DELEGATION BUILDING VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE GUARDING SPANISH GOVERNMENT DELEGATION BUILDING POLICE VANS PROTESTER TAKING PHOTO OF A MOCK COFFIN WITH "DEMOCRACY" WRITTEN ON IT MOCK COFFIN WITH "DEMOCRACY RIP" WRITTEN ON IT POLICE RUNNING NEXT TO POLICE VAN AS IT DRIVES AWAY POLICE VANS FOLLOWING A SMALL GROUP OF PROTESTERS AFTER THE DEMONSTRATION FINISHED
- Embargoed: 15th October 2019 23:03
- Keywords: Catalonia independence referendum anniversary October 1 October 1 referendum protest Catalan independence Spain
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZ9MJBB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Barcelona's urban police said about 18,000 separatist protesters took to the streets of Barcelona on Tuesday (October 1) evening to mark the second anniversary of Catalonia's illegal referendum which plunged Spain into its worst political crisis since its return to democracy.
The numbers were 10 times less than last year's march, another indicator that the separatist movement's momentum has slowed in recent months as it finds itself divided over whether to take a hard line that could lead to another banned independence referendum, or more dialogue with Madrid.
The banned 2017 referendum and the short-lived declaration of independence that followed led Madrid to respond by imposing direct rule on the region for months, sidelining regional authorities.
Twelve Catalan leaders, including members of the regional government at the time and two grassroots activists, are currently held in prison over their role in the failed independence drive. Their sentences are expected within the next two weeks.
At the march, protesters called for their release and chanted slogans against the Spanish government. "Occupation force, get out," they chanted brandishing pro-independence Estelada flags.
But tensions have flared in recent days ahead of the verdict of the jailed leaders.
Spain's high court last week also jailed seven Catalan separatists with possessing explosives, with prosecutors saying they were planning violent action around the time of the verdict. The regional parliament responded to the arrests by adopting a resolution backing civil disobedience.
On Tuesday, peaceful protests were also held in other Catalan towns and cities, including Girona, the heart of the independence movement.
(Production: Mariano Valladolid, Luis Felipe Fernandez, Catherine Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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