Catalan Solidarity: October 2008

Sunday, October 5, 2008

September 11th: Catalan National Day

An estimated 8000 people took to the streets of Barcelona to mark the National Day of Catalonia on September 11th 2008.
As one of the largest and main demonstrations of the day, organised by the independentist left, groups representing political organisations from Endavant (Socialist Organisation for National Liberation), Maulets (Catalan Revolutionary Youth Organisation) SEPC (Students' Union of the Catalan Counties), MDT (Movement for the Defence of the Land), CUP (Candidacy of Popular Unity).
Representatives of several Catalan political prisoner support and human rights organisations also attended to highlight the continuing issues facing Catalan Political Prisoners, namely RESCAT (Rescue) and Alerta Solidària (Solidarity Alert).

This the main demonstration took place without any major incidents, though several political activists were arrested. This despite attempts of provocation by the Spanish State forces, Mossos d’Esquadra against the Catalan Republican Left. It was yet another year of increased security as Catalans marked September 11th.
Following a series of political speeches, masked youths took to the main stage symbolically burning the Spanish and French Flags to applauds from those in attendance, and the burning of a photograph of the Spaninsh Royal family.

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.