Demonstration of the strength of the Catalan separatists before mayoral elections #FreeCatalonia #news #eu #usa #politics

The Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona was packed on Friday in order to call for independence, to show that 'we are not deflated,' stated Carme Forcadell, president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC). Indeed, there were more than 16,000 attendees at the event organized by the main civil society organizations pushing for independence, ANC, Òmnium, and AMI. They all gathered at the Sant Jordi in Barcelona convinced that the path to the Catalan state is possible, and that taking to the streets will be necessary. They filled one of the largest venues in the city, no doubt, and that is a considerable challenge, but they were not able to fill the Olympic ring, as organizers had asked in recent days.

The principal sovereignty organizations made a show of force, a month before mayoral elections. In these elections the votes of the separatists  parties will be counted as well as those who are not, even though it's known that citizens will be voting about local issues as well.

We are a month shy of the May 24th mayoral elections and five months before September 27th,  when the parliamentary elections in Catalonia are scheduled. Then the voters will have the opportunity to turn the the elections into a plebiscite. But in order to do so there is a certain unity of action needed from the sovereignist parties. In this sense, the event at Sant Jordi has been useful because it also presented a picture of unity: in the first row, sitting one next to the other, the leaders of the main sovereignists partiers of the country — Josep Rull (CDC), Oriol Junqueras (ERC), David Fernàndez (CUP)– and from the civil society organizations — Carme Forcadell (ANC), Muriel Casals (Òmnium Cultural), and Josep M. Vila d'Abadal (AMI). There were also members from the sovereignist sector of the ICV party, like Sara Vilà, or former members of the ICV such as the illustrious Raül Romeva.  Jaume Asens, member of both Podemos, Pablo Iglesia's party, and Guanyem, Ada Colau's party, also attended.

http://english.vilaweb.cat/politics/demonstration-of-the-strength-of-the-catalan-separatists-a-month-before-mayoral-elections