Catalan Solidarity: September 11th (Catalan National Day)

Thursday, September 13, 2007

September 11th (Catalan National Day)

Demonstrations took place across Catalonia marking "La Diada Nacional" or the Catalan National Day of which the largest concentration took place on the streets of the capital city, Barcelona.

The day began in the early morning of La Diada, as hundreds at Carrer Ferran, during a ceremony to remember Gustau Muñoz in the same spot were he was murdered by the Spanish police during La Diada demonstrations back in 1977. After that, thousands gathered in ‘El Fossar de les Moreres’ to honour Lluís Maria Xirinacs following his untimely death back in August of this year. At which his former comrades paid an emotional tribute.

Shortly afterwards, the members of the nationalist reformist ERC youth wing (JERC) attempted to enter the square of Fossar de les Moreres but were prevented from doing so amidst catcalls such as "sellouts!", as emotions ran high. Many members of the independentist Left physically prevented entry of JERC by blocking their entrance as tension was high when a member of CAJEI was beaten by them as scuffles broke out.

At midday, several formal speeches remembering the Terra Lliure comrades fallen and calling for the unity of the socialist independentist movement were made. In a show of solidarity, representatives of Batasuna added their support for solidarity and self-determination. During one speech representatives called for the solidarity between the Basque and Catalan peoples to end both Spanish and French repression.

The main prisoner solidarity demonstration took off around 1pm as over one thousand protestors called for the freedom of the Catalan Political Prisoners as the ‘Catalan police’ (Mossos d'esquadra) followed the march as it wound its way through the street with heavily a armed riot squad placed in various "hot spots" such as the Catalan Government or the Spanish Government building in central Barcelona. During the march some large banners were displayed. The former Catalan Political Prisoner Juanra took part in the demonstration.

The evenings demonstration was one of the largest of the day with as the march began at 6pm. Members of the main Independentist Left from organisations such as Endavant, Cup, Maulets, Cajei and also from the black block supporters. An estimated 10,000 participants marched through the streets, displaying banners and flags calling for the independence and socialism. People from several other countries attended such as Castilla, Andalusia, Scotland, Wales, Occitania and Galicia with their flags expressing their solidarity with the Catalan struggle.

At the end of the march, as commemorative speeches were made which called for the independence and socialism. A member of CUP stated that we must not show trust in the nationalist politicians, by they from the ERC or CIU, and their lies. As the ceremony drew to a close with the Internationale, the "Muixeranga" and "El Cant dels Segadors" (the Catalan national anthem) were played as several masked people came to the stage and symbolically burned a Spanish flag.

For more reports, images etc:
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/316787/index.php
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/316778/index.php
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/316725/index.php
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/316716/index.php
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/316706/index.php
http://www.ccsi-si.org/11%20Setembre%202007.htm
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/316643/index.php

Support that Political Prisoners receive from inside Catalonia

Catalan Solidarity has been inspired by the work of Catalan Anti-Repressive organisations such as Alerta Solidària and Rescat, who were set up with the aim of supporting Catalan people who have been imprisoned by the Spanish government for politically motivated activism. Following mass arrests and imprisonment of activists connected to the independentists and anti-fascist movements an informal collective came together to provide both practical support to prisoners and challenge the media portrayal of such individuals which had been fuelled throughout the Spanish mainland by a government, media and police conspiracy. As well as offering practical support and advice to imprisoned Catalans, their supporters and those awaiting trial, Rescat has been involved in high profile demonstrations, including those in front of the main court in Madrid where people have been judged, actions to support political prisoners who are on hunger strike and events to raise awareness of the political situation in Catalonia.