- Title: Anti-separatists rally in Barcelona after pro-independence unrest
- Date: 20th October 2019
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) PRO-UNITY OF SPAIN SUPPORTERS GATHERED AT DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE CATALAN'S GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS SPAIN'S CENTRE RIGHT CIUDADANOS PARTY LEADER, ALBERT RIVERA, GREETING SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF CATALAN'S REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS RIVERA SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS AT DEMO PROTESTERS WAVING SPANISH, EUROPEAN AND CATALAN FLAGS RIVERA DELIVERING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CENTRE RIGHT CIUDADANOS PARTY LEADER, ALBERT RIVERA, SAYING: "I want a government of my country that defends all the citizens from the powerful arbitraries, from the people who are blocking the roads, from those who applaud violence, from those that call mobilizations against the judges and their sentences. This is not tolerable, and this is why we need to cease Torra (Quim Torra, regional Catalan leader). Some people are now saying that he should resign. Let's see, if we have an article in the constitution that allows us to get rid of a man that allows roads to be blocked, who calls for violence, who uses official cars and institutions. What are we waiting for to kick out Torra, let us join to defend the constitution. Torra out, let's cease Torra, let us return to coexistence." PROTESTER HOLDING BANNER READING (Spanish): "FOR SPAIN, FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR THE MONARCHY, APPLY ARTICLE 155 NOW!!" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CIUDADANOS PARTY MEMBER, LORENA ROLDAN, SAYING: "The problem with coexistence in Catalonia has a name and surname, it is name is Quim Torra. This pyromaniac should dedicate himself to putting petrol in the eyes of the leaders of radical separatists. This authoritarian leading the regional government, Quim Torra. He has to leave Catalonia, he needs to leave the government." VARIOUS OF DEMO IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CIVIL SERVANT AT PROTEST, RAQUEL, SAYING: "Today we have come here to firstly support all the constitutional Spaniards, all the Catalans that feel abandoned by the government led by Pedro Sanchez and most importantly for them to feel like they (Catalans) are not alone. There are many of us who are on their side and are supporting them and that they are not going to shut us up. We are going to be here to support them." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STUDENT AT PROTEST, YERAI MELADO, SAYING: "I came here to claim my rights, to claim the freedom of expression of Catalans that aren't speaking out on what is happening in Catalonia." PROTESTERS GATHERED WAVING FLAGS VARIOUS OF PRO-UNITY OF SPAIN PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS CHANTING "YOU ARE NOT ALONE" PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS CHANTING SPANISH NATIONAL ANTHEM PROTESTERS CHEERING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GOING TO GREET POLICE OFFICERS AND THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING POLICE OFFICER GETTING INTO POLICE VAN PROTESTERS CHEERING VARIOUS OF BARRIER DECORATED WITH FLOWERS, SPANISH FLAG AND THANK YOU LETTER
- Embargoed: 3rd November 2019 12:18
- Keywords: Spain Catalonia catalan protests separatists pro-independence CDR Ciudadanos Albert Rivera
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1WI7UV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: One of the most prominent figures against independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia staged a counter-protest on Sunday (October 20) after a week of separatist unrest and called for an end to the violence.
Albert Rivera, head of the pro-unionist Ciudadanos party, told hundreds of flag-waving supporters that Spain's acting Socialist government was not doing enough to end the chaos sparked by the jailing of separatist leaders.
Protesters waved Spanish, European and Estalada (Catalan separatist) flags in Sant Jaume square outside the Government of Catalonia's headquarters and in front of police headquarters.
Demonstrators attending the rally said they were there to support the Catalans and show then they are not alone. They also greeted police officers and thanked them for handling the situation in Catalonia.
After unprecedented violence on Friday (October 18), demonstrations on Saturday (October 19) passed off relatively peacefully and the government has said it has the situation under control.
(Production: Marco Trujillo, Guillermo Martinez, Miguel Pereira, Anna Valderrama) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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