Students begin indefinite camp in Barcelona against 'repression'

Some 40 tents were pitched in Barcelona's Plaça d'Universitat square on Wednesday morning, as around 200 students began an indefinite protest camp demanding the return of "everything that's been taken from us," in reference to "rights and freedoms."

Made up of mostly university students, the protesters hope other youth organizations will join the camp and add their voices to their call for "responsibility" from political leaders in guaranteeing a "dignified future" for young people.

Defining themselves as the "October 14 generation," in reference to the day Spain's Supreme Court sent nine Catalan independence leaders to prison for up to 13 years, the protesters condemn the sentencing of the "political prisoners."

They also condemn the violent conduct of police in the recent protests and disturbances in response to the jailing of the leaders, vowing to occupy the square as long as "the repression" by the authorities continues.

The protest comes a day after many students began an indefinite strike in various universities around Catalonia to protest the jailings, which on Tuesday saw access to classrooms blocked on some campuses.