Pro-independence protests mark anniversary of 2017 referendum

To mark the 6th anniversary of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, various protests have been called through the day on Sunday. 

Civic group Catalan National Assembly (ANC) have organized a protest in Barcelona. The demonstration began 11 am in Plaça Urquinaona with the aim of "reaffirming the will to comply with the mandate that emerged" from the vote. 

In speeches given by the president of the group, Dolors Feliu, as well as from pro-independence activists Júlia Balas, Marcel Vivet, and Nacho Pallàs, the protesters demanded independence immediately or for the Catalan government to call elections if they are unable to deliver that.

Organizers call Plaça Urquinaona "a reference point" for the independence camp for various reasons, such as "the police charges against a young man" who defending the referendum.

After the speeches, the group marched to Plaça Sant Jaume, where the Catalan government headquarters building is located. 

On the way, they stopped by the Spanish police station on Via Laietana and threw miniature ballot boxes and ballot papers at the building, shouting "forces of occupation, out." 

Activists also threw portraits of Pedro Sánchez, Spanish kind Felipe VI, former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and Supreme Court judge Manuel Marchena into a burnt container.

Another demonstration, called by the Committees in Defence of the Republic (CDR), took off from various sites in Catalonia ending up at the La Model prison in Barcelona in the afternoon. 

About fifty people started the march in Badalona on Sunday early in the morning on foot. Other groups set off from other parts of the extended metropolitan area, such as Montcada i Reixac and Sant Feliu de Llobregat.

Other groups and organizations taking part in the demonstrations include Consell de la República, and Òmnium Cultural. 

The groups converged at the Guàrdia Civil police station in Gràcia in the evening, which was heavily guarded by Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police officers.

Some Spain flags were burned and eggs were thrown at the officers but the demonstration passed by without any major incident.  

Unitary event

At 6 pm, there was another political event to commemorate the anniversary.

The Council of the Republic, the Catalan National Assembly, Omnium Cultural, the Association of Municipalities for Independence (AMI), and the Intersyndical trade union organized a unitary event of civil independence.

The event held in Plaça Catalunya in the center of Barcelona.

2017 referendum day

On October 1, 2017, citizens of Catalonia held a self-determination vote that was deemed illegal by Spain. 

The referendum was largely ignored by those not in favor of independence, and as such the 'yes' side won by a landslide. 

However, the day was marred by the violent crackdown by Spanish police officers brought into Catalonia to put a stop to the vote. 

Weeks after the referendum was held, many political leaders, such as then-president Carles Puigdemont, left the country and remain in exile, while others, such as vice-president at the time Oriol Junqueras, remained and were ultimately imprisoned for years for their role in organizing the referendum. 

The independence leaders were later pardoned by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.