Puigdemont at Harvard: ‘Our struggle is a reflection of the fight for American civil rights’
Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, compared Catalonia’s
pro-independence process to the US civil rights movement in his speech
Monday at Harvard University’s Center for European Studies. ‘Our
struggle is a reflection of the fight for American civil rights.’ he
said during the conference ‘Catalonia, Today, Tomorrow’. However, in
contrast with American institutions which ‘have respected democracy and
the will of its people to adapt over time’, Puigdemont lamented Spain’s
refusal to open a dialogue and agree on a referendum so that Catalans
can decide their political future. ‘We are convinced that this is the
best option,’ he said but pointed out that ‘up to now it has been
impossible, due the Spanish Government’s absolutely steadfast refusal to
discuss it’. However, he warned, ‘Catalonia will hold the referendum in
any case.’
Puigdemont emphasised that the ‘challenge’ of organising a referendum
is not only his Government’s ‘commitment’ but the ‘democratic response
to the demands of the Catalan society’ since around 80% of Catalans are
in favor of holding a self-determination referendum and is a decision
backed by the majority of the Parliament.
