Spain: Further protests planned in Catalunya October 16-18 /update 1

Event

Several groups across Catalunya have called for multiple protests between Wednesday, October 16, and Friday, October 18, to denounce the Supreme Court's conclusion, which found several independence activists guilty.

Students are scheduled to hold a 72-hour strike starting on Wednesday including protests on Thursday, October 17, starting at 12:00 (local time) in Barcelona at Plaça de la Universitat, Tarragona at Plaça de la Imperial Tàrraco, and in Girona at Plaça del 1 de Octubre. Another protest is scheduled on Friday, October 18, at Barcelona's Plaça de la Universitat as of 12:00.

On Friday, the Intersindical-CSC and the Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya (IAC) unions have scheduled a protest at the Supreme Tribunal of Barcelona, though a time was not immediately announced.

The group called CDR stated it is planning several "surprise protests." Semi-spontaneous protests should therefore be expected throughout the region over the next several days. Other associated protests should also be expected.

A heightened security presence and significant transportation disruptions are to be expected over the next several days in the region.

Context

Protests have been ongoing since October 1, to mark the two-year anniversary of a failed independence referendum scheduled in Catalunya in 2017. Further, several Catalan activists were on trial for their involvement in the referendum, which Madrid deemed illegal. On October 14, the Supreme Court sentenced nine of them to between nine and 13 years in prison, prompting mass protests in Barcelona and other cities across Catalanuya.

Advice

Individuals in Catalunya are advised to monitor the situation and developments, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.