Organizers call on politicians not to appropriate protest against amnesty

Pro-Spanish unity civic group Societat Civil Catalana (SCC) has asked political parties not to appropriate and "distort" the demonstration they have organized for October 8 against the potential amnesty of Catalan pro-independence figures. 

The group wants the protest to remain universal and open to all, without being dominated by specific political parties. 

Sunday's demonstration will begin at 12 noon at the intersection between Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer Provença and will end on Gran Via, where speeches will be held.

What is the protest?

The demonstration is organized to protest against a potential amnesty law for Catalan pro-independence figures involved in the 2017 bid for independence.

Parties in favor of splitting from Spain have been pushing for the amnesty, while Catalan president Pere Aragonès already took for granted it would arrive, declaring so during his speech to open the general policy debate in September.

Who is taking part? 

SCC president Elda Mata insists the demonstration against amnesty is open to "everyone individually," as opposed to political parties, although she outlined that the organizers are not "bothered" by the presence of any political leaders. 

The heads of the conservative People's Party and far-right Vox, Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Santiago Abascal respectively, will both attend the rally. 

During a press conference at the entity's headquarters, Mata recalled that the demonstration was aimed at "civil society" because she says there are people from across the political spectrum who are "concerned and outraged" by the possibility of an amnesty law being approved.

For this reason, they are worried that the political parties may "capitalize" on the rally, and organizers have asked parties not to attend with their logos and branding. 

The organization has also decided that there will be no representation from any party in the front row of the rally, only civic entities.

Government: protest is "against Catalans"

Spokesperson for the Catalan government, Patrícia Plaja, said that the demonstration "is not in favor of anything, it is against Catalans."

"It is a clearly anti-Catalanist demonstration," Plaja said. "The organizers are the people who don't contribute, who don't add up, who don't want to build, who are Catalan-phobic, and who criticize everything that comes from Catalonia." 

Nevertheless, the executive spokesperson said that people have "full freedom to attend" the rally because the "right to assembly and the right to expression are fundamental."