Rally against Catalan trial called for March 16 in Madrid

A major rally has been called in Madrid for March 16 to reject the trial against Catalan leaders, who have been charged over organizing a referendum and declaring independence in 2017.

The demonstration is part of a stream of mobilizations called by a platform that includes civil organizations and parties with a majority of seats in the Catalan parliament, such as the ruling pro-independence coalition and Catalunya En Comú-Podem, which is in favor of self-determination.

"This will be Catalonia’s most important trial since the end of [Francisco Franco’s] dictatorship," said David Fernàndez, a spokesperson for the platform, which is called ‘Self-determination is not a crime.’