"Let's take back the streets". That was one of the catch-cries as, for the second Tuesday in a row, demonstrations were held across Catalonia. Today, protesters from the left-wing, pro-independence CDR groups and CUP party filled many squares around Catalonia to demand that "life be placed ahead of capital" during the recovery from the coronavirus crisis and in response to the "cutbacks in rights and freedoms". Correct health protocols and respect for safety distances were clear features of today's protests, which began at the standardised time of 8pm.
Participants in the different rallies also demanded an end to health cuts, and to "police brutality", among other things. People voiced a determination that "this crisis must not be paid for by the workers, who always pay for the crises". Anti-fascist posters were seen during the demonstrations, and organizers celebrated that several pro-independence organizations such as Arran, Alerta Solidària, the ANC and the SEPC had declared their support for the protest manifesto.
Protesters state that, as well as defending the right to demonstrate during Spain's constitutionally-exceptional state of alarm, which "drowns us with so much death and precariousness", these protests are a tool to force changes in the political situation in Catalonia.
Protest at the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia. Víctor Antich
Translation:
"Health cuts kill! This time the crisis will not be paid for by the workers. They will find us facing them down!! Let's #TakeBackTheStreets, #Life Before Capital"— CDR Sant Andreu
"LIFE BEFORE CAPITAL !!! Today we met in front of the Terrassa town hall with companions from @trsxlaindepe to claim our rights. We won't pay for this crisis. Our lives are worth more than their profits! #TakeBackTheStreets" — CDR Terrassa
"Today a hundred people have gathered in the Plaça Mercadal in response to the cuts in rights and freedoms. #TakeBackTheStreets."— CUP Reus
The demand to "take back the streets" is also a response to the right-wing demonstrations demanding the resignation of the Spanish government which originated in the Salamanca district of Madrid.
This Tuesday's demonstrations took place in more than thirty municipalities around Catalonia: several neighbourhoods in Barcelona, as well as in cities such as Sabadell, Granollers, Tarragona, Lleida and Vilanova i la Geltrú.
The rallies were mostly small in terms of the individual numbers, but in total, thousands of people protested across Catalonia. In all cases, social distancing and health safety measures imposed during the state of alarm have been respected.
In the case of the mobilization in the Plaça de la Paeria in the city of Lleida, the Catalan Mossos police demanded the ID details of the protester who read the manifesto. Facing him were about thirty people who had gathered respecting safety distances.
"In #Lleida #WeTakeBackTheStreets because we who always pay will not pay for the crisis and we want to come out of this with #RightsAndLiberties!"— CDRs de Lleida
"We're changing the balconies for the squares and streets! Today we're going to protest all over the territory, so that no more of our rights are violated! Life before capital! We will not pay with our lives for their crisis!" - SEPC