- Title: Protesters flood street after Spain court jails Catalan separatist leaders
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) +++DAY SHOTS+++ VARIOUS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CALLING FOR CONVICTED CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS TO BE RELEASED AS THEY WAVE PRO-INDEPENDENCE ESTELADA FLAGS ESTELADA FLAG VARIOUS OF PROTEST IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BIO-MEDICINE RESEARCHER, ALBERT, 28, SAYING: "We are here protesting peacefully because of the unfair and disproportionate rulings. This (protests) has just begun. That is, we want to continue protesting every day peacefully, without violence, and we insist on this because there is a discourse that says Catalans are violent, that we are a species of human beings that want to use violence to achieve our goals, but Catalans are peaceful and civic people, and we will continue to be like this until we achieve our goal which is independence." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FOOD ENGINEER, ELENA, 26, SAYING: "The (secessionist) sentiment of a people will not be dampened by repression and every time anti-democratic action against the ideals of millions and millions of people who have this sentiment are used, it only serves to increase this feeling which they will not be able to extinguish with repression. It hurts my soul to see the injustice that is being carried out against these good people (convicted secessionists)." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BUSINESSWOMAN, CATHY AYALA, SAYING: "Many of us are realising what the Spanish government is really doing with Catalonia. This doesn't happen in any other place, only in Catalonia. Why? Because we are the strongest and they want us to sink us in some way. We want freedom for the political prisoners. Please, Europe come to our side. Thank you." +++ NIGHT SHOTS +++ VARIOUS OF FLARE GOING OFF AS MARCH CONTINUES THROUGH CENTRAL BARCELONA PROTESTERS CHANTING POLICE STANDING BY VARIOUS OF MARCH IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 18:53
- Keywords: protest Supreme court ruling conviction of Catalan separatists sentence Catalonia Spain
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001B12LA2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spain's Supreme Court on Monday (October 14) jailed nine Catalan separatist leaders for between nine and 13 years for their role in a failed independence bid, a decision that triggered mass protests in the region and left the future course of the dispute uncertain.
The strength of the protests could be the first indication of how the future looks for the independence struggle, which has so far been largely peaceful. The ruling though doesn't answer the question of how to handle the separatism drive supported by nearly half of Catalonia's population.
Following the Supreme Courts ruling, supporters of the convicted secessionist leaders took the streets of central Barcelona where demonstrations so far have been largely peaceful, unlike those in Barcelona's international airport which became the focal point of the protests.
As thousands rallied at its entrance, riot police charged at the crowd on several occasions using batons and firing foam balls to prevent the risk of a forced mass entry, police said. Two arrests have been made in the region and airport authorities said at least 100 flights were cancelled.
La Vanguardia newspaper cited health services as saying 37 people have required medical attention after the clashes.
An opinion poll in July showed 48.3% of Catalans against secession and 44% in favour.
(Production: Miguel Pereira, Lorena Cabral, Catherine Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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