Hundreds of protesters attempted to block roads and train tracks in the Spanish region of Catalonia on Monday while students marched in Barcelona to mark the one-year anniversary of an ill-fated referendum on independence from Spain.
In Sant Julia de Ramis, regional leaders gave speeches and people queued to re-enact the vote that was banned by Madrid and the courts for being against Spain’s constitution.
A year ago, the village saw violent clashes between riot police and those attempting to vote.
Hundreds of protesters attempted to block roads and train tracks in the Spanish region of Catalonia on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of an ill-fated referendum on independence from Spain
Members of the Committees for the Defense of the Republic (CDR) perform a sit-in protest as they block an access to the AP-7 motorway during a protest on the first anniversary of the illegal Catalan independence referendum
Pro independence demonstrators, march during a protest in Barcelona, Spain. Pro-secession activists in Catalonia have blocked major highways, train lines and avenues across the northeastern region
Six people were arrested in Barcelona on Saturday after pro-independence protesters clashed with riot police, and as thousands joined rival demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the polarising vote. This was the scene as protesters hit the streets in the city again today
Hundreds of protesters sat on train tracks as they took part in demonstrations a year on from the banned referendum on Catalonia’s independence which was crushed by police
‘The first of October will be the seed of the republic,’ said regional parliament speaker Roger Torrent, speaking on a platform backed with a slogan reading ‘October 1: do not forget or forgive’.
In the town of Girona, protesters attempted to shut a train station by sitting on the tracks and laying out the Catalan regional flag on the tracks, video footage showed. Protesters also laid out tyres along a motorway to impede traffic.
Six people were arrested in Barcelona on Saturday after pro-independence protesters clashed with riot police, and as thousands joined rival demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the polarising vote.
The protests were much smaller than last year and demonstrators later called off the attempted blockages. Traffic was circulating normally around Barcelona’s main streets, municipal police said
Catalan regional President Quim Torra (right) greets some students during a meeting in Sant Jaume square, in Barcelona, today
In the town of Girona (pictured), protesters attempted to shut a train station by sitting on the tracks and laying out the Catalan regional flag on the tracks, video footage showed
Catalan pro-independence university and secondary students shout slogans during a demonstration organised by the platform Universitats per la Republica in Barcelona today
Catalan pro-independence activists stand behind a cloud of green smoke as the take part in a protest called by the Committees for the Defense of the Republic (CDR) in Barcelona
The protests were much smaller than last year and demonstrators later called off the attempted blockages. Traffic was circulating normally around Barcelona’s main streets, municipal police said.
Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia after it declared independence following the vote. Regional elections later reinstated parties favouring a split with Spain, although the popular vote went to those wanting to remain part of it.
Polls in Catalonia show a fairly even split between those who favour remaining in Spain and those who want independence.
Maria del Mar Lladro, 55, walking her dog in a Barcelona park on Monday said she didn’t support the independence movement and said others like her were often ignored.
‘There are a lot of us but we don’t make much noise. It could be seen badly, you could be singled out,’ she said.