RT 9-12-14… “1.8mn people, 11km line: Catalonians stage their biggest independence rally”

It’s not just happening in Scotland. It’s in Spain, as well… in Catalonia. Also in the Basque. This shows that those wanting to restore their place in the world are now stepping up and taking action.

Part of the reason for posting this, is that this is also happening in Hawai’i. And reports like this one indicate to me that the “time is [very] ripe” for the Kingdom of Hawai’i, as well.

Here are two more articles found at RT about the Catalan movement.

Europe’s biggest rally ever? Up to 2 million Catalans march for independence
Catalan leader defies Spanish PM to his face, pledges to press ahead with independence vote

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1.8mn people, 11km line: Catalonians stage their biggest independence rally

Europe saw one of the largest demonstrations in recent years: at least 1.8 million people formed an 11km red-yellow line to show their support for the upcoming independence referendum. A mosaic was made in the form of a ‘V’ for ‘vote’.

V for vote

At least 1.8 million Catalans, dressed in red and yellow, the colors of the Catalan flag, gathered on Gran Via and Avenida Diagonal, two of the main streets in Barcelona. Seen from the air, the rally formed a ‘V’ 11km long. According to the organizers, ‘V’ represented ‘vote’, ‘victory’ and ‘will’ (voluntat in Catalan).

A handout pictured provided on September 11, 2014 by ANC (Catalan Nationa Assembly) shows an aerial view of a giant Senyera (Catalan flag) formed by several thousands of demonstrators during celebrations of Catalonia National Day (Diada) in Barcelona. (AFP Photo)

The number of people participated in the rally – 1.8 million – even surpassed the number of population in Barcelona, which is about 1.6 million. There were more people than the whole population in Luxemburg, Lichtenstein, Monaco or Vatican.

“Catalunya [Catalonia] is not Spain,” read some for the banners, “Whatever it happens, we want to vote” said others.

“Our culture, our language and our traditions must be respected and we have seen that in this state that is impossible,” Bernat Pi, a 24-year-old doctoral student waving a Catalan flag told the Local.

“We want a say in politics and our future. We’ve won back our sovereignty and realized the strength we have, if we mobilize, to change things,” Carme Forcadell, head of the National Catalan Assembly (ANC), one of the organizers of the event, told Reuters.

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1.8mn people, 11km line: Catalonians stage their biggest independence rally
Published time: September 12, 2014 11:55
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People hold “estelada” flags, Catalan separatist flags, as they form a “V” for “vote” during a gathering to mark the Calatalonia day “Diada” in central Barcelona September 11, 2014. (Reuters/Albert Gea)

People hold “estelada” flags, Catalan separatist flags, as they form a “V” for “vote” during a gathering to mark the Calatalonia day “Diada” in central Barcelona September 11, 2014. (Reuters/Albert Gea)
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Human rights, Mass media, Politics, Protest, Rally

At least 1.8 million Catalans, dressed in red and yellow, the colors of the Catalan flag, gathered on Gran Via and Avenida Diagonal, two of the main streets in Barcelona. Seen from the air, the rally formed a ‘V’ 11km long. According to the organizers, ‘V’ represented ‘vote’, ‘victory’ and ‘will’ (voluntat in Catalan).

Catalans holding Catalan independentist flags (Estelada) gather on Passeig de Gracia during celebrations of Catalonia National Day (Diada) in Barcelona on September 11, 2014. (AFP Photo/Josep Lago)

“Catalunya [Catalonia] is not Spain,” read some for the banners, “Whatever it happens, we want to vote” said others.

“Our culture, our language and our traditions must be respected and we have seen that in this state that is impossible,” Bernat Pi, a 24-year-old doctoral student waving a Catalan flag told the Local.

People hold placards with the colours of the Catalan flag as they take part in a demonstration in support of a Catalan vote on independence from Spain, in the northern Spanish Basque city of Bilbao on September 9, 2014, ahead of the Diada. (AFP Photo/Rafa Rivas)

“Now is the time,” said the slogan seen on the T-shirts of some participants.

A woman brandishes a placard on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes during celebrations of Catalonia National Day (Diada) in Barcelona on September 11, 2014. (AFP Photo/Quique Garcia)

“We want a say in politics and our future. We’ve won back our sovereignty and realized the strength we have, if we mobilize, to change things,” Carme Forcadell, head of the National Catalan Assembly (ANC), one of the organizers of the event, told Reuters.

‘On November 9 we will vote’

The referendum is scheduled November 9 in Catalonia. “On November 9 we will vote. On November 9 we will win” read the demonstration’s main banner.

Artur Mas, first minister of the relatively prosperous region in Spain’s northeast, said that it was “practically impossible” to stop Catalonia from voting. He also asked the Spanish authorities not to see the rally as “a provocation or a challenge,” but as “a demand to vote.”

Spanish authorities, however, are opposing the independence referendum, saying that the referendum is illegal since the Constitution does not provide such an option initiated by a region, and needs to be blocked.

“I think it’s absurd to pretend that could be so and I think the Spanish government will have to realize that,” Mas said.

“Three hundred years ago, they took away our freedom by force. Now we will get it back by votes,” Ramon Puig, 66, a retired banker, told AFP.

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RT 9-12-14… “1.8mn people, 11km line: Catalonians stage their biggest independence rally”

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