“Yes. We are against amnesty.” This is how Conchita, a protester who attended the demonstration called by the Catalan Civil Society (SCC) against a possible amnesty law, spoke strongly in front of the microphone of ElPlural.com.
However, in just one minute, Conchita changed her mind and “almost” showed herself in favor of what was stated.
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- ElPlural.com: “There are those who say that the amnesty will ease the conflict in Catalonia a little and end it.”
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- Conchita: “I agree, I agree. As long as it does not continue.
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- ElPlural.com: If it’s just amnesty, will you agree?
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- Conchita: “I almost agree, but with some nuances. That, for example, I feel Spanish. Which is unnecessary because of Catalan nasals. I’m not, I’m Andalusian. But I am Andalusian, I live in Catalonia, I feel Catalonia and I am Spanish.
‘Puigdemont, in prison’
In the demonstration called by the Societat Civil Catalana (SCC) in Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, thousands of demonstrators expressed their rejection of a possible amnesty law, chanting slogans such as ‘Puigdemont , in prison’.
The main slogan of the demonstration, under the slogan ‘Not in my name: neither amnesty, nor self-determination’, attracted a crowd of participants, including political leaders of the right and the extreme right such as Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the Popular Party (PP). , Santiago Abascal (Vox), and Carlos Carrizosa from Ciudadanos (Cs). Although these leaders were not at the front of the protest, they joined the voices against amnesty and self-determination.
Among those present were well-known politicians such as Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid; Juanma Moreno Bonilla, president of the Junta de Andalucía; Fernando López Miras, president of the Region of Murcia; and Jorge Azcón, president of Aragón, all of them from the PP.
Paco Núñez, PP leader of Castilla-La Mancha; Alejandro Fernández, leader of the Catalan PP; and Cuca Gamarra, general secretary of the party, also participated in the demonstration.
Together with Santiago Abascal are Ignacio Garriga, general secretary of Vox and president of the Parliament group; Pepa Millán, spokesperson for Vox in Congress; and other relevant party officials.
On behalf of Cs, Carlos Carrizosa and Adrián Vázquez, the general secretary of Cs and the head of the delegation of Cs Europe, were present, together with other deputies of the Catalan chamber and MEPs.
The protest was led by the president of SCC, Elda Mata; the vice president of SCC, Álex Ramos; other members of the board of directors; and representatives of Fundación Joan Boscà, as well as members of the Balearic Civil Society, Navarre Civil Society and Valencian Civil Society.
A Protest with symbols and controversial slogans
Protesters displayed a giant Spanish flag and carried red and yellow European Union flags, some Catalan and National Police flags, as well as red and yellow umbrellas.
Despite the organization’s express request not to display the symbols of political parties, some participants carried small green flags with the Vox logo.
Posters and slogans express different opinions, from criticism of political leaders to statements about selling Spain for votes. Some protesters carried signs with images of Pedro Sánchez, Oriol Junqueras, Gabriel Rufián, and Carles Puigdemont, with painted horns and mustaches.
Among the proclamations were cries of ‘Long live Spain’, ‘Not in my name. No to amnesty’ and ‘I’m Spanish, Spanish’. One of the attendees brought an airplane with the head of Pedro Sánchez, referring to the ‘Falcon’, with a long nose in the style of ‘Pinocchio’.
