CATALONIA -- Catalan News Agency - 1.8 million Catalans form an 11km-long flag mosaic supporting November's independence vote

Catalan News Agency - 1.8 million Catalans form an 11km-long flag mosaic supporting November's independence vote

 

1.8 million Catalans form an 11km-long flag mosaic supporting November's independence vote

CNA

Barcelona (ACN).- On Catalonia's National Day, on the 11^th
of September, as in 2012 and 2013, pro-independence supporters have
once again created a colossal demonstration, unique at a European level,
to demand the right to hold a self-determination vote. According to
Barcelona local police, 1.8 million participants of all ages and social
origins, coming from the whole of Catalonia, formed a V-shaped mosaic
displaying the Catalan flag along Barcelona's two main avenues to
symbolise 'Vote', 'Victory' and 'Will', all three which start with a 'V'
in Catalan. The rally became a strong support for the 9^th of
November consultation vote that has been agreed by a two-third majority
of the Catalan Parliament. In the vertex of the V-shaped rally, fully
organised by civil society organisations, where the avenues cross each
other, a stage decorated with columns of ballot boxes had been set up;
one ballot box for each of the 947 Catalan municipalities. "On the 9^th of November we will vote. On the 9^th of November we will win" read the demonstration's main banner. Carme Forcadell, President of the grassroots
ANC, which co-organised the rally, demanded the President of the
Catalan Government, Artur Mas, "to put out the ballot boxes" in
November. On the morning, a few hours before the demonstration's kick
off, Mas emphasised that "everything is ready" for such a vote. Mas
asked the Spanish authorities not to see the demonstration as "a
provocation or a challenge", but as "a demand to vote". However, the
Spanish Government has announced it will "do whatever is necessary" to
stop the vote from happening.

At 17.14pm, commemorating the year Catalonia lost its sovereignty
and freedoms, a girl who will turn 16 on the voting day and will
therefore be allowed to cast her vote, symbolically put a ballot into a
box. Once again, supporters of Catalonia's independence have shown their
will to hold a free and democratic vote on independence from Spain and
have peacefully demonstrated in a festive mood. According to Barcelona
local police, 1.8 million participants filled Barcelona's Gran Via and
Diagonal avenues until the Glòries Square. The Spanish Government stated
that between 470,000 and 520,000 attended the demonstration.

A year ago, 455,000 people registered to form a human chain, which
ended up gathering 1.6 million people, according to the Catalan Police.
This year, more than 550,000 citizens signed up to form the flag mosaic,
but the demonstration gathered many more individuals, forming the
largest demonstration ever in Catalonia and probably in Europe.

In order to guarantee the completion of all the 73 stretches into
which the route was divided, participants were encouraged to register
online, as they did for the 2013 demonstration. Following the
instructions from the organisers, they were wearing red or yellow
t-shirts and formed the red and yellow stripes of the Catalan flag along
11 kilometres. Catalan Police confirmed that no violent episodes have
taken place and that the massive demonstration has taken place quietly.

The demonstration was organised by Òmnium Cultural, a civil society
organisation promoting Catalan culture and language, and Catalonia's
National Assembly (ANC), the grassroots association demanding
Catalonia's independence from Spain. 7,000 volunteers guaranteed the
proper formation of the mosaic. More than 1,500 busses have brought
participants to Barcelona from all the corners of Catalonia.
Furthermore, Barcelona's public transportation and short-distance train
services have been strengthened, with wagons packed of people. On top of
this, parking spaces have been set up throughout Barcelona and its
metropolitan area.

Throughout the demonstration, 54 groups of castellers, which
came from across the whole of Catalonia, formed the traditional Catalan
human towers. Furthermore, three stages were set up: one at the vertex
and two others in the two other extremes of the demonstration. At one
extreme, the stage was named "Will" and at the other, "Vote". The stage
at the vertex was named "Victory", expressing the demonstrators' hope to
become independent from Spain. Music interpretations and political
speeches demanding to vote on the 9^th of November were addressed to the attendees.

More on

ANC, Carme Forcadell, Catalan Government, Catalan Independence, Catalan Way, Civil Society, Democracy, Demonstration, European Union, Independence, Massive Demonstration, Muriel Casals, Òmnium Cultural, Referendum, Self-Determination, Spanish Government, Vote

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The girl, who will turn 16 on November 9, casting a symbolic vote (by L. Vilaró)

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