Protests planned for and against far-right Vox

 

Since its recent emergence, the far-right Vox party has split political opinion in Catalonia, and Spain in general. An example comes later this month when two demonstrations will take place, one against the right-wing populists and one to show public support for the party.

"Stop Vox" is the slogan for a march called for Saturday, March 23, that will go from the Jardinets de Gràcia to the Gran Via Avenue in Barcelona, and will involve some 200 organizations, including the pro-independence Òmnium and ANC groups.

The following Saturday, on March 30, Vox is planning to hold its own demonstration in the Catalan capital, on the Reina María Cristina Avenue, at the foot of Montjuïc mountain, under the slogan “Catalonia for Spain."

Next Saturday's rally, called by the Unity against fascism and racism platform, is part of a series of anti-fascist protests around the world. Yet, the organizers said on Monday that they decided to focus on Vox because in Spain the far-right "is not an abstract thing."

As for Vox, the party said last week that its protest is in response to the Barcelona council's decision to withdraw permission for it to hold an event in the Palau Sant Jordi stadium. According to Vox, the council's decision was based on "exclusively political reasons."

Meanwhile, the pro-independence left-wing youth organization, Arran, has announced it is planning to hold its own protest on March 30 to counter the Vox demonstration, under the slogan "No passaran" (They shall not pass).