‘I Am Spanish’: Thousands in Barcelona Protest a Push for ......Oct 10, 2017 · Spain, Long...
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Back to top ‘I Am Spanish’: Thousands in Barcelona Protest a Push for Independence By JASON HOROWITZ and PATRICK KINGSLEY OCTOBER 8, 2017 BARCELONA, Spain — Catalonia’s silent supporters of Spanish unity found their voice on Sunday, thronging into the center of Barcelona as part of a huge rally that reverberated with chants in support of a united Spanish state and against agitators for independence. They demonstrated solidarity with the vilified national police and proudly waved a red-and- yellow national flag that for decades had carried the stigma of a taboo nationalism. “Catalonia is not all for independence,” said José Manuel Alaminos, a 64-year-old lawyer. He said that Carles Puigdemont , the regional president who has led the independence movement, “is supposed to represent all of us.” The separatist push has brought about one of Spain’s worst constitutional crises since the end of the Franco dictatorship nearly 43 years ago. ADVERTISEMENT “But we are Catalonians too! The world doesn’t know the truth,” Mr. Alaminos said, pointing to the enormous crowd. “This is the truth.” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy echoed that sentiment in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País published late Saturday, in which he said flatly that the secession of Catalonia “won’t happen” and that he was “not ruling out anything” to maintain Spain’s integrity, including a constitutional article that allows him to disband the regional leadership and assume its powers. “We are talking about our nation’s unity,” he said. Mr. Puigdemont is expected to address the regional Parliament on Tuesday, when Catalan leaders could declare independence, citing the results of a referendum that the national government and the courts had said was illegal and ordered suspended. The rally on Sunday was organized to show that the referendum, which attracted international attention for a police crackdown that left hundreds injured, did not represent all Catalans. They are, in fact, deeply split over independence . Drivers flying Spanish flags from their windows blasted staccato beeps of their horns in support of people wearing Spanish flags over their shoulders like capes. As helicopters hovered overhead, a river of supporters of Spanish unity snaked from Urquinaona Square down Via Laietana and past the city’s cathedral to its historic train station, where politicians read manifestoes in favor of a united Spain. Along the way, thousands chanted, “Long Live Spain, Long Live Catalonia,” “I am Spanish, I am Spanish,” and “Puigdemont to Prison.” They waved Spanish, Catalan and European Union flags and wore stickers of all three on their chests. The rally — estimated by the police at 350,000 people, though organizers said it was twice that — also served as a coming-out party of sorts for the national flag, which for decades has carried a stigma associated with the far -right groups nostalgic for the Franco dictatorship. ADVERTISEMENT “Everyone thinks waving the Spanish flag means we are right wing or fascists,” said Alfredo Matías, 47, who held one edge of an oversize Spanish flag. “But we are not. We are just patriotic. It should be like the flag in America. And this is a big opportunity to make that happen.” Mr. Rajoy, in his interview, also suggested that the time had come for the flag’s stigma to be lifted. “People have the right to say, I’m Spanish, I’m proud of it and proud of my Constitution,” he said, adding that everyone in the country had a right to defend “your symbols, your flag, your hymn.” He said his message to Spaniards was that “they have a government who will defend, as it is its obligation, the national unity and sovereignty.” Nadia Borrallo, a 31-year-old pharmacist from nearby Sant Boi de Llobregat, said the independence movement had tried to convince the world that all of Catalonia was on its side. “This is the reality,” she said, a Spanish flag draped over her shoulders. “Look around: I see a united people.” As she approached a Spanish flag carpeting the street in front of a paella restaurant, she said that it looked as if Spain’s soccer team had won the World Cup. “When Spain wins, they chant, ‘I am Spanish, I am Spanish,’ ” she said. “Now they say, ‘I don’t feel Spanish, I want my independence.’ It’s nonsense.” ADVERTISEMENT As demonstrators, some of whom arrived on packed buses and trains from around Spain, jeered at balconies hanging pro-independence flags, organizers and security forces cleared paths for politicians and celebrity supporters of Spanish unity who had lined up at the front of the rally. “I feel very enthusiastic and optimistic,” said Mario Vargas Llosa, the Nobel Prize-winning author who became a Spanish citizen in the 1990s and has spoken out in favor of conservative Spanish causes. They followed a flatbed truck loaded with four speakers blasting the voices of organizers who heralded demonstrators as “the silent majority.” Until now, supporters of independence have been the most vocal, especially after the violence on the day of the referendum gave momentum to their cause. Supports of Spanish unity complained that the regional police force, the Mossos D’Esquadra , appeared to refuse a national order to block the referendum. Supporters of independence had thrown flowers at their feet, but the demonstrators on Sunday cursed their name. The Catalan police force — the leader of which is facing sedition charges in Madrid — was almost nowhere to be seen along the rally’s route. Instead, the officers standing outside the National Police Headquarters bathed in the adoration of demonstrators. Officers posed for selfies, received hugs and heartfelt handshakes and smiled broadly as the demonstrators chanted, “You are not alone” and “This is our police.” “The referendum was illegal, and these police followed their instructions,” said Danile Basteller, 51, from Barcelona. He said the police had been treated shabbily: “We are here to show them they are not alone.” ADVERTISEMENT Jose Luis Rencé, a retired soldier clad in his fatigues, agreed. “The law has to be followed,” he said. “With the law, everything. Without the law, nothing.” In front of the seat of the regional government, Manuel Perales Álvarez, a 54-year-old garbage collector, shouted at the stone-face Mossos officers standing guard. “With what authority will you present yourself,” he screamed. “You have no shame.” Lucas Fernández, 66, from Barcelona, stood next to him, holding a Spanish flag and yelling, “Long live Spain” toward Mr. Puigdemont’s office. “He clearly is going to receive the message, but he is pretending he is deaf to us,” Mr. Fernández said of the Catalan president. “He doesn’t listen to the people — only to the supporters of independence around him.” Sergi Miquel, a lawmaker from Mr. Puigdemont’s party, saw little to worry about. “The demonstrations are fine,” he said. “But I don’t think anything changes, because the referendum and the Catalan elections had clear results.” Mr. Fernández worried that the die had already been cast for a declaration of independence. He said he wished that the supporters of Spanish unity had raised their voices sooner. “It’s a little late,” he said. “It should have been done earlier.” Follow Jason Horowitz and Patrick Kingsley on Twitter: @jasondhorowitz and @patrickkingsley . Marta Arias and Germán Aranda contributed reporting. More In World » A Declaration of Independence, Sort of, for Catalonia Carles Puigdemont issued a suspended declaration of independence that left the door open for “dialogue” but also confused many. North Korean Hackers Stole U.S.-South Korean Military Plans, Lawmaker Says Among the data stolen in a hack last year was a plan to remove the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, referred to as a “decapitation” plan. Japan and Utility Are Found Negligent Again in Fukushima Meltdowns It was the third case in which a court found the Tokyo Electric Power Company negligent in not preventing the meltdowns set off by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. Help Subscribe Feedback Terms of Service Privacy © 2017 The New York Times Company jasondhorowitz SUBSCRIBE LOG IN Europe | Thousands rallied in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday in support of a united Spanish state and against agitators for independence. PAU BARRENA / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE — GETTY IMAGES The rally also served as a coming-out party of sorts for the national flag, which has long been associated with nostalgia for the Franco dictatorship. DAVID RAMOS / GETTY IMAGES The rally on Sunday was organized to show that the results of the independence referendum did not represent all Catalans. PAU BARRENA / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE — GETTY IMAGES Many demonstrators wore flags over their shoulders like capes. MANU FERNANDEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS Home World U.S. Politics The Upshot New York Business Day Technology Sports Opinion Science Health Arts Photos Style Video Most Emailed More Sections Settings NYTimes NYT Real Estate Crossword Download Our Apps
Transcript of ‘I Am Spanish’: Thousands in Barcelona Protest a Push for ......Oct 10, 2017 · Spain, Long...
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‘I Am Spanish’: Thousands inBarcelona Protest a Push forIndependence
By JASON HOROWITZ and PATRICK KINGSLEYOCTOBER 8, 2017
BARCELONA, Spain — Catalonia’s silentsupporters of Spanish unity found their voice onSunday, thronging into the center of Barcelonaas part of a huge rally that reverberated withchants in support of a united Spanish state andagainst agitators for independence.
They demonstrated solidarity with the vilifiednational police and proudly waved a red-and-yellow national flag that for decades had carriedthe stigma of a taboo nationalism.
“Catalonia is not all for independence,” saidJosé Manuel Alaminos, a 64-year-old lawyer. Hesaid that Carles Puigdemont, the regionalpresident who has led the independencemovement, “is supposed to represent all of us.”
The separatist push has brought about one ofSpain’s worst constitutional crises since the endof the Franco dictatorship nearly 43 years ago.
ADVERTISEMENT
“But we are Catalonians too! The world doesn’tknow the truth,” Mr. Alaminos said, pointing tothe enormous crowd. “This is the truth.”
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy echoed thatsentiment in an interview with the Spanishnewspaper El País published late Saturday, inwhich he said flatly that the secession ofCatalonia “won’t happen” and that he was “notruling out anything” to maintain Spain’sintegrity, including a constitutional article thatallows him to disband the regional leadershipand assume its powers.
“We are talking about our nation’s unity,” hesaid.
Mr. Puigdemont is expected to address theregional Parliament on Tuesday, when Catalanleaders could declare independence, citing theresults of a referendum that the nationalgovernment and the courts had said was illegaland ordered suspended.
The rally on Sunday was organized to show thatthe referendum, which attracted internationalattention for a police crackdown that lefthundreds injured, did not represent all Catalans.They are, in fact, deeply split overindependence.
Drivers flying Spanish flags from their windowsblasted staccato beeps of their horns in supportof people wearing Spanish flags over theirshoulders like capes. As helicopters hoveredoverhead, a river of supporters of Spanish unitysnaked from Urquinaona Square down ViaLaietana and past the city’s cathedral to itshistoric train station, where politicians readmanifestoes in favor of a united Spain.
Along the way, thousands chanted, “Long LiveSpain, Long Live Catalonia,” “I am Spanish, Iam Spanish,” and “Puigdemont to Prison.” Theywaved Spanish, Catalan and European Unionflags and wore stickers of all three on theirchests.
The rally — estimated by the police at 350,000people, though organizers said it was twice that— also served as a coming-out party of sorts forthe national flag, which for decades has carrieda stigma associated with the far-right groupsnostalgic for the Franco dictatorship.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Everyone thinks waving the Spanish flag meanswe are right wing or fascists,” said AlfredoMatías, 47, who held one edge of an oversizeSpanish flag. “But we are not. We are justpatriotic. It should be like the flag in America.And this is a big opportunity to make thathappen.”
Mr. Rajoy, in his interview, also suggested thatthe time had come for the flag’s stigma to belifted.
“People have the right to say, I’m Spanish, I’mproud of it and proud of my Constitution,” hesaid, adding that everyone in the country had aright to defend “your symbols, your flag, yourhymn.”
He said his message to Spaniards was that “theyhave a government who will defend, as it is itsobligation, the national unity and sovereignty.”
Nadia Borrallo, a 31-year-old pharmacist fromnearby Sant Boi de Llobregat, said theindependence movement had tried to convincethe world that all of Catalonia was on its side.“This is the reality,” she said, a Spanish flagdraped over her shoulders. “Look around: I seea united people.”
As she approached a Spanish flag carpeting thestreet in front of a paella restaurant, she saidthat it looked as if Spain’s soccer team had wonthe World Cup.
“When Spain wins, they chant, ‘I am Spanish, Iam Spanish,’ ” she said. “Now they say, ‘I don’tfeel Spanish, I want my independence.’ It’snonsense.”
ADVERTISEMENT
As demonstrators, some of whom arrived onpacked buses and trains from around Spain,jeered at balconies hanging pro-independenceflags, organizers and security forces clearedpaths for politicians and celebrity supporters ofSpanish unity who had lined up at the front ofthe rally.
“I feel very enthusiastic and optimistic,” saidMario Vargas Llosa, the Nobel Prize-winningauthor who became a Spanish citizen in the1990s and has spoken out in favor ofconservative Spanish causes.
They followed a flatbed truck loaded with fourspeakers blasting the voices of organizers whoheralded demonstrators as “the silent majority.”
Until now, supporters of independence havebeen the most vocal, especially after the violenceon the day of the referendum gave momentumto their cause. Supports of Spanish unitycomplained that the regional police force, theMossos D’Esquadra, appeared to refuse anational order to block the referendum.
Supporters of independence had thrown flowersat their feet, but the demonstrators on Sundaycursed their name. The Catalan police force —the leader of which is facing sedition charges inMadrid — was almost nowhere to be seen alongthe rally’s route.
Instead, the officers standing outside theNational Police Headquarters bathed in theadoration of demonstrators. Officers posed forselfies, received hugs and heartfelt handshakesand smiled broadly as the demonstratorschanted, “You are not alone” and “This is ourpolice.”
“The referendum was illegal, and these policefollowed their instructions,” said DanileBasteller, 51, from Barcelona. He said the policehad been treated shabbily: “We are here to showthem they are not alone.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Jose Luis Rencé, a retired soldier clad in hisfatigues, agreed. “The law has to be followed,”he said. “With the law, everything. Without thelaw, nothing.”
In front of the seat of the regional government,Manuel Perales Álvarez, a 54-year-old garbagecollector, shouted at the stone-face Mossosofficers standing guard.
“With what authority will you present yourself,”he screamed. “You have no shame.”
Lucas Fernández, 66, from Barcelona, stoodnext to him, holding a Spanish flag and yelling,“Long live Spain” toward Mr. Puigdemont’soffice.
“He clearly is going to receive the message, buthe is pretending he is deaf to us,” Mr. Fernándezsaid of the Catalan president. “He doesn’t listento the people — only to the supporters ofindependence around him.”
Sergi Miquel, a lawmaker from Mr.Puigdemont’s party, saw little to worry about.“The demonstrations are fine,” he said. “But Idon’t think anything changes, because thereferendum and the Catalan elections had clearresults.”
Mr. Fernández worried that the die had alreadybeen cast for a declaration of independence. Hesaid he wished that the supporters of Spanishunity had raised their voices sooner. “It’s a littlelate,” he said. “It should have been done earlier.”
Follow Jason Horowitz and Patrick Kingsley on Twitter:@jasondhorowitz and @patrickkingsley.
Marta Arias and Germán Aranda contributed reporting.
More In World »
A Declaration ofIndependence, Sort of, forCataloniaCarles Puigdemont issued a suspendeddeclaration of independence that left the door open for“dialogue” but also confused many.
North Korean Hackers StoleU.S.-South Korean MilitaryPlans, Lawmaker SaysAmong the data stolen in a hack last year wasa plan to remove the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un,referred to as a “decapitation” plan.
Japan and Utility Are FoundNegligent Again in FukushimaMeltdownsIt was the third case in which a court foundthe Tokyo Electric Power Company negligent in notpreventing the meltdowns set off by an earthquake andtsunami in March 2011.
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Thousands rallied in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday in support of aunited Spanish state and against agitators for independence.PAU BARRENA / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE — GETTY IMAGES
The rally also served as a coming-out party of sorts for thenational flag, which has long been associated with nostalgia for theFranco dictatorship.DAVID RAMOS / GETTY IMAGES
The rally on Sunday was organized to show that the results of theindependence referendum did not represent all Catalans.PAU BARRENA / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE — GETTY IMAGES
Many demonstrators wore flags over their shoulders like capes.MANU FERNANDEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS
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10/10/17, 9(33 PMPage 1 of 1
