Tens of thousands of people have joined a protest against independence in Barcelona, calling for Spanish unity and peaceful coexistence in Catalonia after theviolent unrestof the past fortnight.
The demonstration on Sunday, organized by Societat Civil Catalana, an umbrella group of political parties and civic bodies that wantCataloniato remain part of Spain, was attended by about 80, 000 people, according to local police, although SCC put the attendance at 400, 000.
On Saturday, a pro-independence demonstration brought 350, 000 people into central Barcelona to protest against the Spanishsupreme court’s decisionto imprison nine separatist leaders for sedition over their roles in the failed push for independence two years ago.
Although the demonstration on Saturday was peaceful, it was followed by further violent scenes overnight as a crowd of about 10, 000 peopleclashed with police, throwing bottles and balls at officers.
The pro-union march on Sunday took place under the slogan: “For coexistence, democracy and Catalonia. Enough! ”
It was backed by Spain’s governing Socialist party, the conservative People’s party (PP) and the center-right Citizens party. However, the far-right Vox party was asked to stay away.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators carried Spanish and Catalan flags and placards that read “We are Catalans too” as they marched down Passeig de Gràcia, the scene of some of the worst rioting last week.
The PP and Citizens leaders, Pablo Casado and Albert Rivera respectively, joined the march, as did prominent members of the Socialist party, though not the acting prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.
Miquel Iceta, the Catalan Socialists ’party leader, said the SCC had invited his party to join the march“ behind a slogan that we unequivocally support: coexistence and opposition to the independence process ”.
Casado said Catalonia was a “fundamental part of Spain”, adding: “Above all, it’s a land totally opposed to the violence, intolerance and sectarianism of the independence movement.”
Rivera said: “There are more of us who want to be united than want separation.”
On Sunday, the pro-independence Committees for the Defense of the Republic set up roadblocks and blocked railway lines with tree trunks in an attempt to prevent protesters from reaching the march in central (Barcelona) ****. A sit-in was also staged at the city’s main railway station.
On Saturday, about 20, 000 people had joined a rally in support of Spanish unity staged in central Madrid by Vox.
A huge Spanish flag, 50 meters long and 20 meters wide, was unfurled over the crowd, who called for the imprisonment of Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan president who fled to Belgium two years ago to avoid arrest for leading the push for secession. *****
Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal, urged the suspension of Catalan self-government, saying: “Spain isn’t up for discussion;Spainis to be defended at all costs. ”
Catalonia is deeply divided over the issue of independence. Popular support for seceding from Spain – which reached arecord highof 48 .7% in October 2017 – currently stands at (%, with) 48 .3% of Catalansopposing it.
The protest on Sunday took place on the second anniversary of the illegal unilateraldeclaration of independenceby the Catalan parliament. The Spanish government responded by sacking Puigdemont’s administration and assuming direct control of Catalonia.
Following the supreme court verdict on 14 October, a judge reissued theinternational arrest warrantfor Puigdemont, and an extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
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