📷Barcelona club support Catalonia's independence rally from Spain

in #demo7 years ago

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The protesters in Catalonia yesterday closed down highways, schools, business centers throughout the region. Thousands of demonstrators consisting of workers and students joined the streets to protest the police brutality that caused injuries during Sunday's referendum.

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In the capital Catalonia, Barcelona, ​​bus and subway transportation services are disrupted. Tourists bewildered to find an open cafeteria to avoid the demo.

Some demonstrators also forced closed shops in the town of Las Ramblas, but in some other areas the demonstrations were peaceful.

Several workers and pro-independence supporters urged workers throughout Catalonia to strike partially or full day after the government considered the referendum illegal and illegal.

"People are angry, very angry," said 53-year-old Josep Llavina, an entrepreneur who went to Barcelona from a nearby town to participate in a rally outside the police building

"They are violent, they beat people who raised their hands up, how can we not be angry?" he said.

The demonstrators arrived by foot, walking along the highway and the streets closed by the police. Tourists watched from a distance.

The strike was not supported by the two main Spanish unions, the UGT group and CCOO, and there were no reports of disruptions in the major industrial sectors or airports of Barcelona, ​​but the demos affected European football.

Barcelona football club and two other Catalan clubs in the Spanish league joined in this strike action.

The Barcelona club said there were no players in professional or junior teams who were training as strikes took place and club headquarters was also closed. Girona football teams are also putting off workouts and Espanyol players practice in enclosed spaces.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, one of the most vocal Catalan supporters abused by fans as he coached the Spanish national team in Madrid ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Police must step in as fans shout and hold the cards against him.

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui told COPE radio that the Barcelona central defender remains motivated despite being harassed by fans. He praised Pique's commitment to the national team and said there was no reason not to defend it in the squad.

Although some people rallied, some did not agree with this strike action. One of them is Jose Bolivar, 54, a city hall employee.

"I do not agree with this strike, in fact, at work no one told me about the strike so I decided to come," he said.

According to the Catalan regional health authorities, more than 890 civilians were being treated for injuries, mostly not seriously, following clashes during Sunday's referendum.

The police used batons and rubber bullets to dispel the protesters who wanted to vote in the referendum. The Spanish Interior Ministry said 431 security forces were wounded.