Protest draws thousands in central Barcelona
Around 7,000 people took part in a demonstration organised by left-wing independence groups in central Barcelona on Friday afternoon, according to organisers. The regional police, Mossos d'Esquadra, estimated the turnout at 1,100. The march, held on Catalonia's National Day (11-S), began at Plaça Urquinaona and proceeded to Plaça Comercial, concluding at the El Born Cultural Centre. The event was led by the CUP, Alerta Solidària, Arran, Coordinadora Obrera Sindical (COS), Endavant and the Sindicat d'Estudiants dels Països Catalans, under the slogan 'a people in struggle for a free land'. Protesters voiced opposition to capitalism, mass tourism and fascism, and directed chants at Sílvia Orriols, mayor of Ripoll, labelling her a 'fascist rat'.
Clashes and tensions at Fossar de les Moreres
The rally occurred amid heightened tensions at the Fossar de les Moreres, a traditional focal point for 11-S events. On the evening of 10 September, a separate gathering of around 500 supporters of the far-right group Aliança Catalana welcomed Orriols with xenophobic slogans including 'water and soap is the solution' and 'Catalonia for Catalans', as reported by El Periódico. Facing them, more than 2,000 anti-fascist and anti-racist demonstrators, including members of Alerta Solidària, Arran, COS, Endavant and SEPC, gathered on Passeig del Born. A significant police presence, with over 20 anti-riot vans, was deployed to prevent direct confrontation. The situation escalated into multiple police charges, resulting in three arrests and five individuals under investigation, according to the same source. A third group of about 100 people affiliated with Intersindical positioned themselves on Carrer de l'Argenteria, kept apart by police cordons.
Parallel events across Catalonia
Similar mobilisations by left-wing independence groups also took place in Lleida, Girona and Reus on Friday. The Barcelona demonstration is part of broader commemorations of the National Day of Catalonia, which include official events listed on the Ajuntament de Barcelona’s website barcelona.cat.
Primary sources: barcelona.cat, Barcelona City Council. Reported by elperiodico.cat, lasexta.com, elmundo.es, CatalunyaPress.es, barna.news, Llibertat.cat, cronicaglobal.cat, ACN, elpuntavui.cat, Parlament de Catalunya, Nació Digital, estrelladigital.es, laciutat.cat, Racó Català.
