Catalan Solidarity: NO MORE REPRESSION AGAINST THE YOUTH WHO STRUGGLE

Thursday, November 29, 2007

NO MORE REPRESSION AGAINST THE YOUTH WHO STRUGGLE

On the night of the 21st to the 22nd of November, several youths from Tarragona made a symbolic attack on the military barracks of the ‘Civil Guard’ of this city by throwing several paint bombs and eggs to the front of the building. This was an action that was part of a national campaign by the CAJEI (Coordinator of the Youth Assemblies of the Independentist Left) entitled “Subversion to Conquer Freedom”.

This action was aimed at questioning the very existence of this Spanish repressive military body which is still present throughout the Catalan Countries, as well as to condemn their post-Francoist and torturer course.

After the action 4 young people were arrested and brought to the police station where they were read their rights and handcuffed afterwards. Next day they were brought to a room to give statement but they refused to. They were released with charges relating to acts of public disorder.

Members of the organisation supported the action by recognizing it as legitimate for it was a response and rejection of this military body as well as the fascist symbolism that it endorses and, which it imposed throughout the Catalan region preventing its social and national emancipation as a people.

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.