7 yıl önce

Pro-independence demo in Barcelona attended by 450,000

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont seen among the huge crowds filling the streets around the Paseo de Gracia boulevard, with many chanting "independence" and "freedom."

Staff Reporter

Reuters

People wave separatist Catalan flags and placards during a demonstration organised by Catalan pro-independence movements ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Omnium Cutural, following the imprisonment of their two leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, in Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2017.

Some 450,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday, local police said, after Spain moved to dismiss Catalonia's regional government to thwart its leaders' independence bid.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont was among the huge crowds filling the streets around the Paseo de Gracia boulevard, with many chanting "independence" and "freedom".

Reuters

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont (C Front) and other Catalan regional government members attend a demonstration organised by Catalan pro-independence movements ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Omnium Cutural, following the imprisonment of their two leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, in Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2017.

The demonstration was originally called to protest against the detention of two influential separatist activists, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, who are being held on sedition charges accused of instigating protests in the run-up to Catalonia's banned independence referendum on October 1.

Reuters

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont (C Front) and other Catalan regional government members stand ahead of a large demonstration organised by Catalan pro-independence movements ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Omnium Cutural, following the imprisonment of their two leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, in Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2017.

But Saturday's move by Madrid to seize powers from the semi-autonomous region - which could include taking control of its police force and replacing its public media chiefs - was on the minds of many in the crowds.

"I feel totally outraged and extremely sad," said Meritxell Agut, a 22-year-old bank worker.

"They've trampled on our rights and our ideas as Catalans," she said, adding that, "They can destroy everything they want but we'll keep on fighting."