Catalan Protesters: ‘All We Get Is Repression From Spain’

Violent protests have continued for the second day in Barcelona, the economic hub of Spain, following the jail sentence of nine Catalan separatist leaders.

Thousands of demonstrators have been reported to have clashed with riot police on the streets, airport and on highways in protest against the jail sentences given to the regional separatist leaders involved in a failed bid for independence from Spain.

Nine politicians were found guilty of sedition by the Spanish Supreme Court on Monday. They were sentence between nine to thirteen years for organizing an independence referendum in October 2017 which was ruled illegal.

According to the prime minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, “nobody is above the law. In a democracy like Spain no body is subject to trial for his or her ideas or politics, but for criminal conduct as provided by the law.”

In a reaction, one of the protesters was quoted by Aljazeera as lamenting the ill treatment meted out on them by the Spanish authority.

 “All we get from Spain is repression, we are standing up now. We will get hurt, but we are too tired of this.”

However, pro-independence leaders in Catalonia have pledged to keep pushing for a new referendum.

The protest is expected to continue with a general strike planned for Friday.