- Title: Hundreds demonstrate in Madrid in support of convicted Catalan secessionists
- Date: 16th October 2019
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 16, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING IN SUPPORT OF CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS IN JAIL RIOT POLICE IN FRONT OF PROTESTERS WITH THEIR FACES COVERED PROTESTER SHOUTING THROUGH LOUDSPEAKER "FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CATALAN LIVING IN MADRID FOR 44 YEARS, MONTSERRAT BOSCH, SAYING: "Now I feel like an independence supporter. I am not one but I will think about becoming one. From now on, with everything that has happened, I swear support for independence is going to rise because many Catalan friends of mine that never were (pro-independence) say that this is not fair." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT HECTOR, SAYING: "The sentence made public on Monday is completely unfair and disproportionate and puts in danger the freedom not only of those in jail but, Catalan citizens and the rest of the country. The new definition of sedition can be extended and any demonstration could be considered sedition." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CATALAN LIVING IN MADRID FOR 42 YEARS, CRISTINA ESCARVIS, SAYING: "The solution is to talk, talks at the same level between the Spanish prime minister and the Catalan president so eventually a binding referendum can be organised." CATALAN PRO-INDEPENDENCE "ESTELADA" FLAG PROTESTERS GATHERED AT SOL SQUARE PLACARD WITH THE PHOTOS OF LEADER OF THE CATALAN GRASSROOT GROUP OMNIUM CULTURAL JORDI CUIXART AND FORMER CATALAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILLOR JOSEP RULL NEXT TO YELLOW RIBBONS IN SUPPORT OF JAILED CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS PLACARD WITH THE FACES OF JAILED CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS READING IN CATALAN "FREEDOM" AND CHANTING " THE STREETS WILL ALWAYS BELONG TO US" PROTESTERS HOLDING A GIANT SPANISH REPUBLIC FLAG AND CHANTING IN SPANISH " MADRID IN SUPPORT OF CATALAN PEOPLE" PROTESTER HOLDING FLAG READING IN CATALAN "FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS" HORSE NEXT TO RIOT POLICE OFFICER RIOT POLICE AND POLICE ON HORSES IN FRONT OF FAR-RIGHT SUPPORTERS WHO TRIED TO APPROACH THE DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF THE CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS IN JAIL FAR-RIGHT PROTESTERS SAYING WHILE POINTING TO FAR-RIGHT PROTESTER (SOME WITH THEIR FACES COVERED WITH NECK GAITERS) "THESE PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY ONES CONFRONTING THE SYSTEM. THEY ARE CONFRONTING THE SEPARATIST AND THESE POLICE WHO ARE MERCENARIES." POLICE HORSE WITH THE SPANISH FLAG IN FRONT OF FAR-RIGHT PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 30th October 2019 20:07
- Keywords: protest Catalonia Spain Madrid protest supporting Catalonia's secessionist leaders
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1CKQPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Hundreds took to the street in Madrid on Wednesday (October 16) in support of the Catalan convicted secessionist leaders.
The conviction of the nine Catalan leaders to nine to 13 years in prison on Monday (October 14) has triggered violent protests in Catalonia where some demonstrators over three days have cut off access to Barcelona's airport, blocked roads and rail tracks and set rubbish containers and cars alight as they clashed with police.
In Madrid, protesters gathered at Sol square to show their support for separatist Catalans calling for a binding referendum.
Chanting in Catalan "freedom for the political prisoners" and holding placards with the photographs of former members of the Catalan regional government, the protesters demonstrated peacefully, and many said they felt the sentence was unfair.
(Production: Julien Hennequin and Silvio Castellanos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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