More roads blocked in Catalonia to protest imprisonment of officials

Protests against the imprisonment of eight deposed Catalan ministers and two civil pro-independence leaders continued on Monday. At least three major roads were blocked in the country, including the N-340, which links Barcelona with the southern border of Catalonia. The road was blocked for an hour during morning rush hour, which caused several kilometers of traffic jams in both directions. The father of jailed foreign minister, Raül Romeva, took part in the action. Three train lines in Barcelona's metropolitan network also suffered delays after protesters left tires and pallets on the rails. 

The actions followed several other protests over the past few days. When the judge decided to jail eight deposed ministers on Thursday, citizens immediately responded by demonstrating in the central squares of towns all over Catalonia on Thursday and Friday nights, by protesting by banging on pots and pans each evening, and by putting up posters in public spaces on Sunday.

Even more protests are expected later this week. On Wednesday a minor trade union and the main pro-independence civil organizations have called a general strike. The last one was on October 3 to reject police violence during the independence referendum two days before. The protests to demand the release of the officials jailed will culminate this Saturday, November 11, with a demonstration in Barcelona, which is expected to be massive.