The Assembly of Young People of Catalonia and the Platform for the Catalan Selection have called a demonstration in central Barcelona for 11:00 on Monday 12 October, Hispanic Day. The march will begin at the Rafael Casanova monument and end at Plaça d’Urquinaona, setting out a political demand for recognition of the Catalan nation and for Catalans to decide their own future.
People attending should go to the Rafael Casanova monument before the scheduled start time. Residents, workers and visitors travelling through Ronda de Sant Pere and Plaça d’Urquinaona on Monday morning can use the published route and timetable to plan their journeys.
Route and closing speeches
- 11:00: the demonstration is due to start at the Rafael Casanova monument.
- Route: it will proceed along Ronda de Sant Pere.
- Finish: representatives of the two organising groups will give closing speeches and present the day’s demands at Plaça d’Urquinaona.
Organisers link the march to self-determination
The organisers have adopted the slogan, “Nothing to celebrate. Much to remember.” They describe Hispanic Day as an occasion to assert their claim for Catalan self-determination, rather than a celebration, and have called for renewed mobilisation after Catalonia’s National Day on 11 September and the anniversary of the 1 October 2017 independence referendum.
“On 12 October, Hispanic Day, we take to the streets to assert that there is nothing to celebrate and that we have a lot of history to remember.”
A separate independence demonstration on 2 October, marking the ninth anniversary of the 2017 referendum, drew about 600 people according to local police. Catalan News reported that police dispersed protesters after bins were set alight during that march, which was organised by the Catalan National Assembly, the Committees for the Defence of the Republic and the Assembly of Young People.
Monday’s organisers have urged supporters to gather at the Rafael Casanova monument at 11:00 before the march follows Ronda de Sant Pere to Plaça d’Urquinaona.
Reported by vilaweb.cat, Catalan News, CNJC, VilaWeb Feed.
