Spain: Protest planned for Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella August 29

Event

An anti-secessionist group, Ciutadans, is planning a demonstration in Parc de la Ciutadella in central Barcelona (Catalonia) for 19:00 (local time) on Wednesday, August 29. The rally is to protest the assault of a woman who had been allegedly accosted at the same location while pulling down pro-Catalán secession ribbons. While the Ciutadans have insisted this is not a political protest, it may be viewed as such by their opponents. Counter-protests, localized traffic disruptions, and a heightened security presence are possible.

Context

A woman was allegedly assaulted on Saturday, August 25, while removing yellow pro-Catalán secession ribbons from Parc de la Ciutadella. Political tensions remain high since Catalonia's controversial and unsanctioned independence referendum on October 1, 2017, that resulted in violence between voters and security forces that wounded hundreds of people. The results, in which 90 percent of the votes were in favor of independence, were ruled unconstitutional and annulled by the central government in Madrid.

Advice

Individuals in Barcelona are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all demonstrations as a precaution.