2019–2020 Catalan protests
This sandbox is in the article namespace. Either move this page into your userspace, or remove the {{User sandbox}} template. The 2019 Catalan Protests represent an ongoing protest movement triggred by the sentencing of nine Catalan independence leaders in the Trial of the Catalonia independence leaders, who were convicted of treason, sedition and other crimes against the Spanish state for their role in the organization of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.[1]
| 2019 Catalan Protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Catalan independence movement | |||
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| Date | 6 September 2017 – 1 June 2018 (7 years and 4 months) | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | |||
| Methods | Demonstrations, civil disobedience, civil resistance, riots, occupations, general strikes | ||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
| Number | |||
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| Casualties and losses | |||
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Background
The Spanish-governed region of Catalonia has a long established independence movement, which seeks to establish Catalonia as an independent and soverign republic, thus breaking off from the Kingdom of Spain. A 2014 Catalan self-determination referendum resulted in a landslide victory for proponents of catalan independence, which emboldened Catalan authorities to conduct the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, which they deemed would be binding and result in the independence of Catalonia.
The Spanish Government, then led by Mariano Rajoy, however, considered this an act of illegal separatism and appealed to the Spanish Supreme Court to block the referendum. The Supreme Court concurred and ordered Catalonia to cancel the referendum.
The autonomous Catalan government, however, refused and held the referendum despite the Supreme Court's binding order. The Spanish Government launched Operation Anubis, in which it attempted to forcefully stop the referendum from taking place by raiding polling stations, preventing the printing and publication of electoral materials, taking down websites advocating or providing information for the referendum and prosecuting it's organizers. The Catalan government resisted the police operation and carried trough with the referendum.
By the end of the day, the Catalan government had declared that the referendum had been successfuly held, announced that over 90% of voters had agreed on independence and issued the Catalan declaration of independence, which declared an independent Republic of Catalonia nine days later.
The declaration, however, was in direct contradiction to Article 115 Spanish Constitution, as well as the orders of the Spanish Supreme court and Spanish Government. For this reason, the Spanish government ended the region's autonomy and imposed direct rule over Catalonia, seizing control of the entirety of the autonomous government's institutions and infrastructure. The Spanish Government, along wit the far-right Vox Party, then began to prosecute a case against several of the autonomous region's leaders, as well as the organizers of the referendum.
On 14 October 2019, nine of the Catalan independence leaders were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison, with another three being fined. The demonstrations erupted to protest the Supreme Court's ruling shortly thereafter.[4][5][6][7][8]
Protests begin
Protests against the sentencing of the Catalan independence leaders began on 14 October at Barcelona Airport just hours after the Spanish Supreme Court announced it's verdict. By the afternoon, thousands of protesters had already gathered at the airport, effectively forcing the airport to close. Clashes erupted between protesters and police forces after the latter charged at and attempted to disperse the former with police batons. The Catalan Government, led by the pro-independence Quim Torra called for both the amnesty of the convicted leaders and a renewed attempt to realize catalan independence.[9][10]
Clashes erupted into open violence, as protesters reacted violently at police efforts to end the demonstration, with some demonstrators setting cars on fire and throwing jars of acid at police officers. The Catalan Law Enforcement agency Mossos d'Esquadra, which had previously been accused of aiding the independence movement, replied by firing tear gas at the demonstrators. The pro-independence speaker of the Catalan Parliament condemned the violent incidents and called for peaceful protests against the ruling.[11] The protests grew larger, as more and more Catalans took to the streets. Some demonstrators attempted to storm buildings belonging to the Spanish Government and clashed with police forces.[12] The Spanish Police announced that 51 protesters had been arrested.[3]
Quim Torra addresses the protest
On 17 October, the pro-independence President of the Catalan Autonomous government. Quim Torra called for an immediate halt to violence and dissasociated himself from violent protesters, while at the same time calling for more peaceful protests. Nevertheless, the stuation in Barcelona had evolved into open street battles between protesters and police, as both violent demonstrators attacked and provoked police forces, and police officers charged peaceful protesters for their proximity to violent ones.[13]
Shortly thereafter, the Catalan President attempted to rally the crowd to stating that he will push for a new independence referendum, as large scale protests continued for the fourth day.[14]
On 18 October, Barcelona became paralyzed, as tens of thousands of peaceful protesters answered the Catalan President's call and rallied in support of the jailed independence leaders.[15] The demonstration grew overwhelmingly, with the Barcelona police counting at least 525,000 protesters in the city.[2]
References
- ^ "Violent clashes as Spain jails Catalan separatists". 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ a b c d Madrid, Stephen Burgen Sam Jones in (2019-10-18). "Barcelona: violence erupts after huge rally over jailing of Catalan separatists". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ a b "Spanish PM: we will not be provoked by Catalonia violence".
- ^ "Violent clashes as Spain jails Catalan separatists". 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Catalan crisis in 300 words". 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ País, El; Rincón, Reyes; López-Fonseca, Óscar; García, Jesús (2019-10-14). "Supreme Court finds jailed Catalan secession leaders guilty of sedition". El País. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ Barcelona, Sam Jones Stephen Burgen in (2019-10-14). "Violent clashes over Catalan separatist leaders' prison terms". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ Jones, Sam (2019-10-14). "What is the story of Catalan independence – and what happens next?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ Barcelona, Sam Jones Stephen Burgen in (2019-10-14). "Violent clashes over Catalan separatist leaders' prison terms". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Police clash with protesters at Barcelona airport". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ Madrid, Stephen Burgen Sam Jones in (2019-10-16). "Third night of violence in Barcelona after jailing of Catalan separatists". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Thousands return to streets in Catalonia protests". 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Watch dramatic street battles in Barcelona". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Catalan leader pushes for second independence vote". 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Demonstrations paralyse Barcelona". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-18.