In Spain's Name

In Spain’s Name

Jordi Borràs

In three months, anti-independence activists have been behind 139 violent incidents in Catalonia, 86 of them physical aggressions.

Photo: Jordi Borràs 6 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

Vandalism, insults, threats and beatings are just some of the Spanish unionist-inspired attacks that were seen in autumn 2017, especially after 1 October. Although the perpetrators are a small minority among all the people who have come out in favour of Spanish unity, the violence cuts across boundaries and has set the tone in a great many of the mobilisations by anti- independentists. Far-right militants have been behind a great many incidents, but by no means all of them: in many cases, the only common denominator among the aggressors is the display of pro-Spain symbols or slogans. The majority of the Madrid-based media have ignored these aggressions and fed an anti-Catalanist narrative that has made them even more immune from punishment.

To complement this report: Appendix. Chronology of incidents. Page 136

7 Between 8 September and 11 December, at least 139 violent incidents took place in Catalonia that were politically motivated in defence of the unity of Spain (without including the actions of the Spanish police on and around 1 October to prevent the referendum from going ahead). Of these — you can consult the complete list of incidents in the appendix at the end of this Yearbook — the majority (86) were physical aggressions, which caused a total of 101 victims with injuries of varying degrees of consideration. The remaining offences were of a range of types, although primarily we find threats, intimidation, vandalism, damage to private property and at least two cases of sexual violence. The investigation into these incidents by the Mèdia.cat Yearbook has been based on research and verification through journalistic, police and eye-witness sources and, whenever possible, through the victims themselves. Names have not been published because we have wanted to protect identities to the utmost, although in some cases the public nature of the cases makes this difficult. The number of incidents collected may increase as many violent actions have not been reported to the police or have not been gathered through witness statements. The aim of this research is to raise the profile of the cases of violence in the form of investigative journalism, at all times respecting the legal course of the various procedures already under way, and those that we have been told will be initiated. Similarly, the focus of this work centres on the facts and not on the perpetrators, since that is a task for the parties and the legal agents. It should not be forgotten either that there was violence both before and after the 95 days included in this report. Several cases that could have been included have been left out as they occurred outside the period under analysis, due to the impossibility of verifying some of the information or also due to the doubt – despite the indica- tions – of the political motivation behind the offence. This is the case, for example, of the vandalism that occurred on the night of 3 October, when the tyres on over 160 vehicles in Girona were slashed. For reasons of space – it would have been impossible to determine 8 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

the extent – we have also left out offences on social media, although we have included three cases where they have played a notable role and that have resulted in public persecution or in businesses related to the victims being affected. Neither does the report include the countless acts of vandalism against offices of political parties and associations, private homes, schools and monuments. It does, however, include the cases where graffiti involved death threats or the acts of vandalism caused serious damage. We have also left out those events that, despite being directly related to the wave of violence around the referendum of 1 October, occurred outside the Principality of Catalonia. Taking into consideration the selection we have made to reduce the size of the sample, it should be pointed out that a more in-depth study could increase this figure considerably.

A narrativet hat dehumanises independentism The climate of tension and violence against independentism – and against those who favour the right to self-determination – has created a wave of Catalanophobia and anti-Catalan sentiment that has extended outside the Principality and made itself felt all over the Catalan Lands under the domain of the Spanish state. In Valencia, 15 incidents were reported between September and November, such as the aggressions by far-right militants during the 9 October march, which left several demonstrators and journalists injured. In Palma de Mallorca, on 7 October, the attack on the stand of the Assemblea Sobiranista de Mallorca (the Mallorcan Sovereign Assembly) during a pro-Spanish unity demonstration caused material damages and at least one person was injured. To a lesser extent, similar events have occurred in a number of parts of Spain, such as the taunting by pro-unity demonstrators in Zaragoza on 24 September against an event by Podemos in defence of an official referendum, where the president of the Aragon Region- al Assembly was injured and a Catalan TV3 car attacked. Beyond the Pyrenees, an example of the pro-Spanish unity violence was the raid organised on social media to tear down independentist flags from 9 homes in the London suburb of Camden and the threats of organ- ising “a night of broken glass” if independentist estelada flags were not removed, in light of which the Metropolitan Police began an investigation. Both inside and outside Catalonia, it is hard to explain this widespread climate of violence without analysing the narrative created in autumn 2017 by the judiciary, the police, the state itself and, to a large extent, the Madrid-based media where critical voices raised against the Spanish government’s stance with regard to the Catalan issue were notable for their absence. The demonisation of the independence movement, of the Catalan media, of the Catalan school system and of the Mossos d’Esquadra Catalan police has contribut- ed to dehumanising the independentists and justifying the police violence against supporters of the referendum. A symbol of this is the infamous “A por ellos!” (Go get them!), the chant used by supporters of Spanish unity to encourage the Spanish police sent to Catalonia to try to stop people from voting on 1 October. The figures show that it is precisely after the day of the referendum that the number of incidents rocketed, coinciding with the wave of repression on the day, which resulted in 1,066 injuries. October saw the majority of the facts under study, with a total of 80. The creation of this media narrative is, precisely, one of the caus- es of the violence against independentism, according to historian Carles Viñas, a specialist in the far right and Catalan nationalism and a doctor in contemporary history and lecturer at the University of Barcelona. Viñas adds two further reasons: on the one hand, the sense of abandonment of Span- The widespread climate of ish nationalists in light of the lack of a political response from violence cannot be explained their parliamentary representa- without analysing the narrative tives, who denied the legitimacy of the referendum and left the created by the judiciary, the police, Catalan Parliament on 6 and 7 the state itself and the media September, and on the other, the 10 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

realisation for the first time by supporters of Spanish unity that the aspirations of the independentists were a serious threat. This realisation led to the large pro-Spain demonstrations the following spring that were a hothouse for many of the violent incidents collected in this research. This study shows that on 8, 12 and 29 Octo- ber, coinciding with the three large demonstrations organised by the pro-unity Societat Civil Catalana (SCC) in Barcelona, 34 violent episodes occurred.

Pro-Spain violence cuts across boundaries This violence is not a new phenomenon in Catalonia. Viñas sets out at least two antecedents: the attacks by pro-Spain militants against members of Unió Catalanista and Estat Català, which led to a number of deaths in the first two decades of the twentieth century, and the appearance of neo-Nazi skinheads, the inclusion of racism in the Spanish far-right discourse and the confrontations with a com- bative independentism that was just emerging in the 1980s. Even so, according to Viñas, there is something about the current wave of violence that sets it apart: these offences are no longer the exclusive terrain of the militant far right, as was the case in the 1920s and 1980s. This time, the attackers cannot always be classed as alt-right, as the violence has transcended its classical environment – the far right – towards a pro-Spanish unity sentiment that cuts across the old boundaries. In many of the incidents analysed, it is not possible to establish a link between the aggressors and a specific ideology, as their only common denominator is the display of symbols or slogans in favour of the unity of Spain. Such is the case that even the prototype of the aggressor has changed: gender, age and a particular look are no longer a common pattern. This conclusion is also shared by the Mossos d’Esquadra, who note that most of the people identified and arrested in connection with these events had no criminal records relating to their political activity but common criminal records instead. Besides this, it is also particularly alarming to find that in 11 four cases, it is recorded that the aggressors were members of the Spanish Policia Nacional or the Guardia Civil, three of whom were off duty. Unlike the police violence on and around 1 October, these events have been included in the figures because of their anti-Cata- lan or directly Catalanophobic component. Another noteworthy element that is especially repeated in incidents that occurred during the demonstrations is that the victims speak of how other demonstrators who initially went over to sepa- rate the sides or help the victims subsequently ended up justifying the attitude of the violent demonstrators. Other victims speak of riot police – both the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Policia Nacional – standing by while aggressions were taking place. It should also be stressed that in a significant number of cases of violence (28), the victims preferred not to file a complaint. According to their own stories, this is primarily for three reasons: out of fear, whether this is at having to come into contact with their aggressor again or that the aggressor might find out their personal details during the prosecution; out of a lack of confidence in a slow and often ineffective legal system in offences of this nature; and finally, because of the monetary costs and the time it would take. It has not always been easy to ascertain whether an official complaint has been filed. This is why we find a large number of cases where it is not known whether a complaint has been filed: 59 in all, more than the 52 cases where there is record of a complaint being filed. The majority of the aggressions, threats and other offences in this research could be counted as so-called hate crimes because they were motivated by the victim’s ideology (independentists, pro-referendum), directly because of their origin or feeling of identity. In addition, the message of hate becomes a warning to the rest of the people with a similar political ideology or origin. It is also relevant that of the 139 cases studied, there are 30 where the victims are journalists, many of them from the public media. Included among the victims, there are also seven cases in which members of the Mossos d’Esquadra have experienced aggression, threats or insults, 12 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

and an eighth case of a police officer with Barcelona’s Guàrdia Ur- bana municipal police, injured by far-right activists. Seven of these eight cases affecting the Catalan police occurred after 1 October, coinciding with the media debate on the role of the Mossos on the day of the referendum. Finally, we should highlight the large amount of graffiti painted on schools throughout the country, insulting the teachers or the Catalan education system, none of which has been included in the report for the reasons already stated, although the case of two teachers injured in a school does appear. All of the incidents that we set out have gone practically unno- ticed by most of the Spanish state media. They have been especially ignored by the same Spanish press that – with the exception of a few cases – uncritically bought into the argument that has led the legal apparatus to imprison the association leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart for sedition, an offence that includes public up- rising, disorder and violence, despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations that they led being more than demonstrated.

Jordi Borràs

(Gràcia, Barcelona, 1981). Freelance photojournalist and illustrator, member of the Barnils Group. He works with a number of newspapers, including El Món, El Temps, Crític and Basque magazine Argia. He has devoted part of his career to investigating the far right and Spanish nationalism in Catalonia. He has published four books: Warcelona: Una història de violència (Pol·len edicions, 2013), Plus Ultra. Una crònica gràfica de l’espanyolisme a Catalunya (Pol·len edicions, 2015), Desmuntant Societat Civil Catalana (Saldonar, 2015) and La cara B del procés (Pagès editors, 2016). 13 8 OCTOBER VIOLENT INCIDENTS PRO-SPAIN DEMONS- TRATION BY SOCIETAT PROVOKED BY CIVIL CATALANA SUPPORTERS OF SPANISH IN THE CENTRE OF BARCELONA UNITY 1 OCTOBER REFERENDUM

Aggressions, threats, acts of DEMONSTRATION BY FALANGE AND vandalism and other incidents of DEMOCRACIA NACIONAL IN an anti-independentist or anti- BARCELONA referendum political motivation recorded in Catalonia between 8 September and 11 December 2017.

Source: produced by the author based on journalistic, police and eye-witness sources. You will find the complete chronology of incidents in the annex to this Yearbook 3 OCTOBER GENERAL STRIKE 12 OCTOBER PRO-SPAIN DEMONS- 30 SEPTEMBER TRATION BY SOCIETAT PRO-SPAIN DE- CIVIL CATALANA MONSTRATION WITH IN THE CENTRE OF 22 SEPTEMBER FAR-RIGHT GROUPS BARCELONA FAR-RIGHT DE- IN THE CENTRE OF MONSTRATION BARCELONA ORGANISED IN FRONT OF THE ANC HEADQUARTERS IN BARCELONA 18 OCTOBER PRO-SPAIN DE- MONSTRATION AT PLAÇA FRAN- CESC MACIÀ IN BARCELONA

8 9 10 ... 20 ... 22 23 24 25 26 ... 29 30 1 2 3 4 ... 8 9 10 ... 12 ... 16 ... 18 ... 23 ... 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2...4 5 6...8...10 11 12 13 ... 16 ... 19 ... 21 22 ... 25 26 ... 2 3 ... 5 ... 7 8 9 10 11

september october 14 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

16 OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS FILED 27 OCTOBER NO OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS OR NOT KNOWN 15 PROCLAMATION OF THE CATALAN 95 VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AGGRESSION DAYS IN TOTAL REPUBLIC INVOLVING JOURNALISTS 14 PRO-SPAIN DEMONS- TRATION AT PLAÇA ARTÓS IN BARCELONA 13 139 CASES: 12 29 OCTOBER 52 OFFICIAL PRO-SPAIN DE- COMPLAINTS FILED , MONSTRATION BY 28 NO OFFICIAL SOCIETAT CIVIL COMPLAINTS , 11 CATALANA IN THE 59 NOT KNOWN CENTRE OF BARCELONA 10 86 AGGRESSIONS 9 101 VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AGGRESSION 8

4 NOVEMBER PRO-SPAIN 30 7 DEMONSTRATION CASES INVOLVING WITH THE PRESENCE JOURNALISTS OF THE FAR RIGHT 6 30 OCTOBER IN MATARÓ ANTI-FASCIST DEMONSTRATION AND PRO-SPAIN 5 GATHERING IN LA BONANOVA IN BARCELONA 4

november december 15 Chronology of incidents Jordi Borràs

Complete list of politically-motivated violent incidents in favour of Spanish unity recorded in Catalonia between 8 September and 11 December 2017. The incidents have been detected and verified based on journalistic, police and eye-witness sources, and by talking to the victims whenever possible. APPENDIX

Aggression Official complaint filed

Victim of aggression Not known if official complaint filed

Journalist involved With no official complaint filed

8 september operation being carried out by the Les, Val d’Aran An MP with the pro-independence Spanish police was injured by an indi- Candidatura d’Unitat Popular (CUP) vidual wearing pro-Spain clothing. The had to close the rural guest house that incident began when the aggressor she runs with her brother as a result of criticised the Policia Nacional for not an escalation of threats that emerged acting more robustly, which is when from a slur campaign conducted by he recriminated the woman for going some of the pro-Spain media. For sev- to give her support to the CUP mem- eral weeks, she was the target for in- bers and insulted her, referring to her sults and serious threats because she physical appearance, her ideology and was a woman and an independentist, the fact that she was a woman. This led conducted on social media, email and to a reproach by the woman and ended her private phone. Some of the threats with the pro-Spain supporter punching got to the point of warning her that her her in the face. house was going to be burnt down. 22 september 9 september L’Hospitalet A police officer with the Mossos d’Es- Tarragona, A glass object thrown from a building de Llobregat, quadra received a phone call with a Tarragonès smashed at the feet of a man and his Barcelonès death threat at the police station where young daughter as they were leaving a he works. The facts are connected with demonstration in front of the Guardia the appearance of the police officer’s Civil barracks in protest at the search personal details and photograph from of the premises of the El Vallenc news- when he was off duty and had gone to paper by members of the Guardia Civil. the demonstration on 20 September in 10 september front of the offices of the Department The Mossos d’Esquadra reported a far- of Economy and Taxation of the Catalan Balsareny, Bages right activist for attempting to boycott Government because of the raid by the

the Torch March in the town. The Catalan Guardia Civil. A photo was taken of him police prevented some fifteen pro-Span- there that was then published by various ish unity supporters from breaking up media outlets. The victim tells how dur- the event as they had planned. Another ing the following days, he received vari- of the activists was also reported for pos- ous threatening phone calls at his home session of banned weapons. and that he was also threatened on 20 september different occasions as he walked along Barcelona, A woman who was on her way to the the street in the town where he lives Barcelonès national headquarters of the CUP as and works, which led to him filing up to part of a demonstration against the three official complaints for threats.

136 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

Barcelona, During the course of a far-right demon- attacked previously (9 and 11 Septem- Barcelonès stration called by the “Por España me ber) with paint and excrement being Jordi Borràs Atrevo” (For Spain I Dare) platform in thrown at the window where an inde-

front of the headquarters of the ANC and pendentist estelada flag was hung. which ended at the Guardia Civil bar- 24 september racks in Gràcia. Campdevànol, A group of three neo-Nazis known Ripollès in the town for their activism broke

An activist with the far-right Democ- the glass in a door to a private home

racia Nacional (DN) party threatened that was displaying a pro-referendum a freelance photojournalist, trying to poster. According to eye witnesses, the force him to stop working, and hit his damage was caused by a flick knife. camera with a motorbike helmet. 25 september Premià de Mar, A group of three young people who A demonstrator threatened and tried to Maresme were putting up pro-referendum post- stop a freelance journalist from filming ers were insulted by a couple who, in a a group of far-right militants causing very agitated way, tore down the post- damage to a doorway. ers that the three young people were putting up. One of the attackers, who A group of far-right militants damaged appeared to be wearing a knuckledust- a doorway on Carrer Marina when they er, shouting “fucking separatists, reds”, violently hit the street door. shoved and kicked one of the young people and broke his mobile phone, Far-right militants abused and threat- which he was carrying in his pocket, as ened a family with two young children a result of the blows. The aggressor took when they identified the parents as in- some of the material that the group was dependentists. using to put up posters. They filed an official complaint with the Policia Local. Far-right activists abused, threatened 26 september and spat on a car driver. Campdevànol, For the second time in just a few days, a Ripollès group of three neo-Nazis known in the

When the march was ending, near the town for their activism broke the glass Guardia Civil barracks in Gràcia, two in a door to a private home that was far-right demonstrators punched and displaying a pro-referendum poster. hit a young man who came across the demonstration and who they identified Vilassar de Mar, A group of women who were putting as an independentist. Maresme up referendum posters was insulted by 23 september an individual. One of the women, who

During the night A group of three people, among them a was filming the scene, was hit by this of 22 to 23 minor, were putting up posters for the person, who tried to stop her taking Vila-seca, referendum when they were attacked pictures. Tarragonès. by two individuals wearing far-right clothing. The attackers injured two Barcelona, A person presenting himself as a “fas-

people, one of them to stop them from Barcelonès cist” called the private phone of a free-

taking pictures of the facts. They also lance journalist, from a hidden number, threatened them and stole the material, to threaten him in relation to his work referring explicitly to the victims being as a journalism. The Mossos were told independentists. As they were being verbally about the incident but no offi- attacked, the minor rang the police on cial complaint was filed. 112 and a Mossos d’Esquadra patrol car 29 september and a Policia Local patrol car showed Manlleu, Osona. Four people were injured by pellets

up, which filed a report. Puig-Agut School while they were protecting a polling station at the Puig-Agut school in the

Sant Vicenç A resident filed a complaint with the town. The victims were shot in the neck dels Horts, Baix Mossos d’Esquadra about a traffic cone and chest by the pellets, which would Llobregat. being thrown into her courtyard from have been fired from an air rifle. the street, with a shout of “bastards”.

The object landed a few centimetres Girona, Gironès. At a CUP campaign event, around from an elderly woman who was in the Germans Sàbat fifteen pro-Spain supporters turned courtyard. The house had already been district up, some of them wearing Francoist

137 symbols, insulting and threatening the A group of demonstrators among people attending and preventing them which were known far-right militants, from being able to go ahead with the forced their way onto the roof of two event normally. The pro-Spain support- private buildings on Plaça de Sant ers also cut off the electricity supply Jaume to take down the Òmnium Cul- during the event, stopping the gener- tural and Assemblea Nacional Catalana ator installed by the organisers, which (ANC) posters that were hung from the was powering a bouncy castle. The roof of the buildings. The activists also bouncy castle was full of children when went to the façade of Barcelona City it suddenly began to deflate, although Hall to tear down the poster with the the speedy actions of the parents at- slogan “More democracy”, without the tending the event prevented any of the Guàrdia Urbana taking any action. children from being hurt. 30 september A couple who came across the demon- Barcelona, During a pro-Spain demonstration stration on Plaça Urquinaona and who Barcelonès. staged at midday by the “Fundación were taking photos of the march on a Plaça de Sant DENAES”, several demonstrators in- mobile phone were insulted and threat- Jaume jured two people after one of them ened by a group of demonstrators, who shouted “we will vote”. Besides insults forced them to leave the area and stop

and shoving, the two people were taking pictures. punched in the back despite the pres- 1 October ence of two Guàrdia Urbana local police Barcelona, A couple were abused by two individu- officers, who had to take them inside Barcelonès. als who insulted them and asked if they the City Hall for their own safety. c/ de París. would be going to vote. When they an- 12.30 am swered in fear that they did not know Barcelona, A man who was sleeping at old people’s and tried to leave, one of the aggressors

Barcelonès. centre to protect the polling station shouted “If you leave Spain, I’ll kill you!” and La Guineueta old was insulted, threatened and hit when then punched a 58-year-old man in the people’s centre he was on his own outside the facilities. back. According to the victim, who re-

The aggressor was a known far-right quired medical attention, when he went militant in the neighbourhood. to a Mossos d’Esquadra police station the day after the attack, the police officer at- Figueres, Alt A group of 4 pro-Spain supporters were tending him asked him to come back an- Empordà. involved in an act of aggression. There other time as they were swamped with Creu de la Mà was a group of 20 people protecting the work and that unless he had evidence of Cívic Centre. facilities, which was to be used as a poll- the incident, filing an official complaint 11 pm ing station. Some of the assailants had would be a waste of time.

their faces covered and one of them was carrying a Spanish flag tied to a stick. Barcelona, A group of pro-Spain supporters threat- Taking advantage of one of the people Barcelonès. ened the people who were protecting having left the centre, they attacked Sant Jordi the Sant Jordi School (polling station) at them. The victim was hit hard in the ear. School. around midnight. Four Mossos d’Esquad- around midnight ra cars went to the school and the officers Barcelona, Pro-Spain demonstration with the pres- advised the referendum supporters to Barcelonès ence of far-right militants and groups leave the place for their own safety. held on Plaça Urquinaona and that ended at Plaça de Sant Jaume. Badalona, A TV3 Catalan TV crew that had gone Barcelonès to the Sant Jordi School to cover some

A TV camera operator was abused, incidents with a group of pro-Spain threatened and injured by pro-Spain supporters, found their car with all four demonstrators. After being injured with tyres slashed and a window smashed. a blow from an umbrella and when he was about to call the police, a demonstra- Barcelona, About a dozen individuals in cars po- tor threatened him, telling him to leave Barcelonès. sitioned themselves in front of the if he did not want to be stabbed. Subse- c/ Doctor Roux polling station at the Catalan Waste quently, on Plaça de Sant Jaume, he was 1.45 am Agency, where there were about 90 vol- once again abused when he was filming unteers protecting the premises. The from a balcony, and he was hit by an egg pro-Spain supporters were carrying and coins thrown by the demonstrators. Spanish flags, eggs and bottles filled 138 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

urine, which they threw at the premis- Sta Margarida de An individual burst into the polling es. The volunteers, who were inside, be- Montbui,Anoia. station and injured two people with a came aware of their presence when the Secondary sharp weapon. The aggressor was ar-

pro-Spain supporters started playing school. 5 pm rested by the Mossos d’Esquadra. the Fascist Cara al Sol anthem very loud

from one of the vehicles. They shouted Catalanophobic insults and threats Cornellà, Baix Around fifty people with Spanish flags against the people inside. During the Llobregat. abused about a hundred residents who rest of the day, this polling station re- Fontsanta civic were queuing to vote in the polling sta- ceived intermittent visits by between centre tion. Here, a young man who was try- 20 and 50 pro-Spain supporters wearing to vote was attacked when he was

ing far-right clothing looking for a con- surrounded, held and hit by a number frontation with voters. In the evening, of individuals while they shouted “Viva the Mossos d’Esquadra had to put up España”, “you won’t vote” and “get out of a safety cordon to prevent a riot with a the neighbourhood”. group of over 100 pro-Spain supporters who were shouting abuse at voters. Barcelona, A resident saw how two individuals Barcelonès. with pro-Spain clothing abused sever- Barcelona, A group of four people attacked the poll- c/ Robrenyo, al pedestrians with anti-independen- Barcelonès. ing station. The aggressors tried to get Sants district tists insults and threats of aggression. Espai Putxet into the polling station by one of them On seeing the resident watching them day centre wearing an estelada around his neck from his home and noticing an estelada 3 am and his face uncovered, pretending to hanging from his balcony, the individuals

be bringing food for the people there. insulted him and threatened him with a When the people inside refused to open baseball bat that they took out of the the door because they found his atti- boot of their car, which was parked in the tude suspicious, the young man tried to same street where the incident occurred. force the door open, when three hooded people appeared and threw paint, eggs, Calella, A man who was with some others in urine and a stone, which smashed the Maresme front of the Hotel Vila, where officers glass in the door to the premises. of the Guardia Civil who had taken part

that day in the police charges to try Girona, Gironès. While a group of residents were in a and stop the referendum, was injured Vila-roja district polling station in the state school, an- by an off-duty member of the paramil- other group, with Spanish flags, threat- itary police force, who, when he hit the

ened (including death threats), insulted man with an extendible baton, shouted and intimidated voters for a large part at him: “get out of here, Catalan, get out of the day. At one point, with the arrival of here”. The victim was injured with a of more pro-Spain demonstrators, the blow to the leg and another to the back situation got out of hand and around and required medical attention. fifteen individuals attacked the school, injuring several people who were in- Barcelona, Pro-Spain demonstration organised by side. As a result of this incident, there Barcelonès parties with a fascist ideology, such as La were 3 people injured (one of them with Falange and Democracia Nacional. an open wound on their chin, presum- ably caused by a knuckleduster), broken Pla de la Several far-right demonstrators insult- furniture, electoral material lost and Catedral, ed and injured a pedestrian. the ballot boxes stolen and thrown into Via Laietana

the middle of the road.

Girona, Gironès. A group of around fifteen people went Plaça de Several demonstrators confronted a Pont Major to the nursery school where a polling Catalunya pedestrian who was carrying an este- district station had been set up. They spent a lada, surrounding him, pushing him to

large part of the day there, abusing, the ground and hitting him. threatening and sometimes throwing 2 october objects at voters, although without Lleida, Segrià. A young man who was cycling home causing any injuries. Finally, the atmos- Rambla Ferran from a demonstration against police

phere calmed down when the Mossos repression wanted to give a flower to a turned up at the school. riot police officer with the Spanish po- 139 lice and the officer refused it. This led to Begues, Baix At a road block put up by pro-independ- an exchange of reproaches that was an- Llobregat ence activists as part of the General swered by one of the officers with Cat- Strike, there were confrontations with alanophobic insults like “catalufo” and a far-right group, several of whom car- “village idiot”. The police officer tried to ried Spanish flags, clothing with Fascist detain him, gripping him firmly with symbols and one of them with a swas- his arm, although he stopped when a tika tattoo. The confrontation began pedestrian recriminated him for his when one of the pro-Spain supporters actions, warning him that he was re- wanted to go along the road blocked by cording it. Although the young man the pickets no matter what and injured was finally able to get away, the officer a man on a tractor. Immediately after- in question kept his bicycle. wards, a known neo-Nazi from the area 3 october injured another picket, but the speedy General Strike intervention of the Policia Municipal, Barcelona, A group of pro-Spain supporters return- who were at the scene of the incident, Barcelonès. ing from a demonstration in front of the was able to overpower the aggressors. c/ Amigó offices of Catalunya Ràdio came across a group who were taking part in the Gen- Barcelona, The owner of a bar who was cleaning

eral Strike called for that day. When the Barcelonès. the premises with the blind halfway two groups came together, all of them Sants district up was punched in the face by an in- young, one of the pro-Spain supporters dividual who shouted “you’re not even spat at one of the strikers, which started Catalan, you have to open!”, referring to a fight where the pro-Spain supporters the General Strike and to her being of punched at least 3 of the people taking Latin American origin. An eye witness part in the opposing side’s march. to the incident who was wearing a T-shirt with the “Yes” to independence Barcelona, Various incidents along the route of a emblem of the ANC campaign was also Barcelonès pro-Spain demonstration, which began insulted by the aggressor for wearing on Plaça d’Artós in the Sarrià district it. The person wearing the T-shirt then and which was supported by known rang the Mossos, who quickly arrived neo-Nazi leaders. Throughout the on the scene, but without being able to demonstration, a number of pedestri- catch the aggressor, who had already ans were threatened and insulted and fled. The victim had a bruise on her at least one aggravated robbery took cheekbone as a result of the aggression. place of two estelades carried by people opposing them. 4 october A woman who had received a number

of injuries after the police charges on 1 Barcelona, A photojournalist who was return- October filed an official complaint for Barcelonès. ing from covering the General Strike threats resulting from the harassment corner was injured when getting off the bus. she suffered after various Spanish me- c/ Lepant with An aggressor pushed him against the dia outlets accused her of lying about c/ València metal grille of a newspaper stand while the injuries she had received. Specifi- shouting “It’s my duty, Viva España!”. The cally, since her case came to light, on

reporter received a serious blow to the 1 October, she received up to 5,000 head and was left unconscious, subse- Whatsapp messages and 3,000 Tele- quently suffering an anxiety attack. He gram messages as well as 700 phone was taken by ambulance to the Hospital calls with offensive messages (basically de Sant Pau, where he was diagnosed insults and threats of all kinds, including with concussion caused by cranial trau- death threats) in her voicemail, which ma. During the following days, the vic- carried on for weeks after she filed the tim suffered dizziness, loss of memory official complaint. Besides this, and tak- and difficulties in speaking due, according advantage of her personal details ing to the doctors, to the concussion. being published in internet forums, According to the photojournalist, the at- there was also a campaign to discredit tacker, who assaulted him from behind, a small business that she had started was most certainly a passenger who had but no longer had anything to do with. been making offensive comments to As a result of the campaign, the present him on the bus as he saw him looking at owner of the business was forced to photographs of the strike. shut down the website and inform her 140 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

customers of the boycott. As well as this, saulted the Mossos d’Esquadra vans. this woman was also followed and har- There was also tension in the park assed in person. As an example: from when some demonstrators got in by

two individuals who recognised her in breaking the chain on a gate. They also the street and followed and insulted her, confronted the riot police protecting to the day when the victim was leaving the Catalan Parliament, and threw ob- her house when she received a text on jects at them. her mobile at that precise moment saying “look behind you”. Passeig Lluís 3 young men of North African origin 8 october Companys were chased and hit with sticks by a Barcelona, Pro-Spain demonstration in the city cen- 3 pm group of 300 demonstrators. At least Barcelonès tre organised by Societat Civil Catalana one of them suffered an open wound (SCC), which was also supported by over to the head. a dozen far-right organisations. c/ Bou de Sant A young man was injured by a group of

A woman who had got on the train Pere .3.12 pm demonstrators. in Montcada heading for Barcelona found herself in a carriage filled with demonstrators going to the pro-Spain c/ Girona - A middle-aged woman was threatened demonstration. At one point, a group Ausiàs March and humiliated by a group of demon- carrying Spanish flags and a klaxon sat 3.30 pm strators wearing far-right symbols and down next to her. Seeing that the noise carrying Spanish flags. They surround- of the klaxon was disturbing her, they ed her and harassed her while shouting started to abuse her, calling her “catal- pro-Spain slogans when they realised ufa”. When she tried to get off the train that she was terrified and did not sym- at the Sagrera stop, the group tried to pathise with the demonstration held bar her way while touching her breasts that day. The woman also witnessed and her bottom. Once the train doors how these incidents were repeated opened, they pushed her out and she with other pedestrians who were not fell to her knees on the platform, while carrying Spanish flags and how some from above her, a girl who was with the vehicles with demonstrators “pretend- group spat at her. ed to run people over” at traffic lights if they were not wearing pro-Spain Plaça de Sant A demonstrator with a Spanish flag symbols. Jaume.at noon assaulted another man who was not carrying one. Pg. de Sant Joan A photographer who asked some dem-

- c/ Alí Bei. onstrators for permission to take their Plaça de Sant A group of demonstrators insulted and 3.30 pm photo was chased and brutally attacked Jaume - c/ del injured a team of reporters working for by a group of pro-Spain supporters who

Bisbe. 12.20 pm Tele 5. had mistaken him for a TV3 reporter. The injured person ended up with con- tusions all over his body and a cut on Passeig de A group of demonstrators tried to stop the head. Gràcia - a fire engine that was on its way to put pl. Catalunya. out a fire in the area of the Apple store. Pg. de Sant Joan A fist fight between two demonstrators 1.30 pm As well as trying to bar its way, the After 3.30 pm as a Mossos d’Esquadra went by.

demonstrators attacked the emergency vehicle with punches, sticks and kicks. Arc de Triomf A group of demonstrators threw Rambla - A Mossos car was surrounded by a stones at a balcony where an estelada c/ Ferran group of demonstrators who began to was hanging. 1.40 pm assault it and insult the officers until

they were forced to abandon the vehicle A TV3 reporter was injured by the stick and take refuge in the Guàrdia Urbana from a demonstrator’s flag while she local police station on the Rambla. was broadcasting the news live from the press dais near to where the SCC La Ciutadella Where the far-right SOMATEMPS or- demonstration was ending. After fin- After 2 pm ganisation was shouting at the end of ishing her report, she was insulted with

the protest, tens of demonstrators as- shouts of “whore” and “bitch”. 141 10 october Demonstrators insulted, shoved and tied to snatch the microphone from Barcelona, A female BTV journalist and a male a Euskal Telebista Basque journalist Barcelonès. journalist with the Ara newspaper were while he was trying to set up a live con- Delegation of threatened by an activist with the fascist nection, which had to be cancelled. the Spanish Falange Española de las JONS (FE JONS) government while they were covering a pro-Spain

Parc de la Demonstrators from the far-right SO- demonstration. When he found out who Ciutadella MATEMPS organisation insulted a jour- the Ara journalist worked for, the far-

nalist for her physical appearance, and right activist threw beer at him twice, an editor with the Ara newspaper, with saying “I’m going to rape your colleague”, all sorts of threats to prevent him from referring to the BTV journalist who was recording them on his mobile phone. A also covering the demonstration. The few minutes later, the same individuals journalists also reported the lack of ac- did the same with a photographer. tion by a team of Spanish riot police who did nothing to guarantee their work de-

c/ Pau Claris A demonstrator wearing far-right spite witnessing the threats. 12 october clothing insulted a journalist with Di- recta, spat at her and poured beer over Barcelona, A man was insulted by half a dozen her, trying to soak her camera. Barcelonès. people, shouting “Arriba España, bas- c/ Bisbe tard!”. When he ignored them, two of Carriage on L2 of Two demonstrators wearing Spanish Laguarda, the group stopped and repeated the slo- the metro national football team shirts attacked a Raval district gan. When the victim asked them why passenger, with a possible racist moti- 2 am they were insulting him, one of them vation. They punched and kicked him. punched him in the head, by his ear. However, the action of other passen- After a few hours, he needed medical gers on the carriage, in isolating the attention because of a severe inflamma- violent individuals, was able to prevent tion of the auditory nerve. A month after further damage. The two men had been the aggression, the victim still required seen a few hours earlier visibly drunk medical attention for tinnitus in the ear. giving fascist salutes in front of the Spanish police station on Via Laietana. Barcelona, Pro-Spain demonstration in the city cen- The Mossos d’Esquadra began an inves- Barcelonès tre organised by SCC, which was also sup- tigation on their own initiative. ported by several far-right organisations: 9 october Barcelona, The national headquarters of the CUP c/ Gran de Police officers with the Mossos d’Es- Barcelonès was attacked during the night with sil- Gràcia quadra intercepted a group of 15 far-

icon placed in the lock and an attempt right activists who were connected with to burn the exterior metal door, causing the “Hogar Social Madid (HSM)” organ- a small fire. isation. While searching their vehicles, they confiscated banned weapons such Barcelona, A man in the Guinardó district filed as knuckledusters, chains and tear gas Barcelonès. an official complaint with the Mossos sprays, as well as balaclavas, flares and a Guinardó district about death threats from some of his neo-fascist flag with a Celtic cross.

neighbours. With the excuse that he had soaked the Spanish flag in the -down Passeig de A freelance journalist who was videoing stairs flat by watering his plants, the Gràcia the presence of neo-Nazis marching was neighbours came to his door, with death kicked in the leg while he was working.

threats and shouting “come out, we’re going to get you, we’re going to kill you”. Plaça de Fight between about 20 far-right pro- According to the victim, it is not the first Catalunya Spain demonstrators on the terrace time that the residents’ association had (which was destroyed) of the Zurich bar. had problems with these individuals as The possible cause of the fight was the when the residents were banging their rivalry between far-right football fans. saucepans as an independentist protest, During the brawl, a local Guàrdia Urba- the neighbours played sounds of bombs na police officer was injured. and machine guns and the Spanish national anthem and the Spanish Legion Ronda de Sant A fight between pro-Spain demonstra- anthem at full volume while insulting Pere. 4 pm tors . everyone in the neighbourhood. 142 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

16 october alans”. Weeks after the incident, it was Palamós, A 75-year-old man who was banging learnt that one of the officers involved Baix Empordà a saucepan in protest at the impris- in the brawl was a chief inspector in the

onment some hours earlier of Jordi Spanish police with 250 riot police of- Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart was on the ficers under his command. balcony of his home when he was in- 25 october jured in the kidney area by buckshot. A L’Escala, Alt A TV3 reporter was attacked by a neighbour who witnessed the incident Empordà. demonstrator while he was recording reported to the Mossos that someone Campsite Illa the presence of detachments of the had fired five shots with a long firearm Mateua Guardia Civil. The TV3 team was start-

from around 30 or 40 metres from ing to record the pro-Spain demonstra- where the victim was, while shouting tion organised by the 1000 Patriotas “traitorous catalufos, we’ll kill you all”. group when a demonstrator snatched Thanks to the dual official complaint the microphone from the journalist and (by the victim and the eye witness), the threw it into the campsite. The micro- Mossos d’Esquadra found the aggres- phone broke on impact. sor and confiscated the buckshot rifle. 18 october Roses, A group of 3 pro-Spain neo-Nazi skin- Barcelona, Demonstration on Plaça de Francesc Alt Empordà head supporters with two dogs (one Barcelonès Macià, for which the organisers were un- of which was classified as a potentially

known but which was promoted on social dangerous breed) assaulted an elderly media by SCC, among others. man who was putting up pro-independence posters in the town centre. A group of demonstrators stopped driv- They hit him on the back and then ers of vehicles who did not shout “Viva sprayed his eyes with paint. He was only España” from being able to drive freely saved from serious injury thanks to the around the square, forcing them to shout glasses he was wearing. Then after re- this slogan if they wanted to get past. moving his glasses, he was hit by two of the men in the group while the third

The same demonstrators who impeded one held the dogs as they shouted, “you vehicles on the square stopped an RAC1 bastard independentist”, “you’ll always be journalist, forcing her to record this in- Spanish” and “we’re going to make you cident on her mobile phone. stop wanting to be independentist”. As a result of the beating, the man required

An RAC1 journalist was threatened and hospital attention where bruises were injured with the stick from a demon- observed on his face and upper body strator’s Spanish flag. When the jour- and he had two bruised ribs. nalist recriminated him, the demon- 26 october strator put his hand on his genitals and Barcelona, Police from the Mossos d’Esquadra said to her “I’ll give you my stick, rebel”. Barcelonès. filed an official complaint against a 23 october Plaça de Sant well-known figure from the gossip Barcelona, Seven off-duty Spanish police officers Jaume magazines. The events occurred when

Barcelonès. were in a brawl in a bar. At least two of the man started shouting pro-Spanish The Born district them were very drunk, refused to pay unity slogans and displaying posters at for their drinks and demanded that the a pro-independence student demon- waiters speak in Spanish, thinking they stration. The man, who was making were speaking in Catalan, although the quite a scene, was taken inside the Cat- waiters were, in fact, Italian and were alan Parliament building by members speaking in Italian. After refusing to of the Catalan police and was arrested pay for their drinks and demanding for resisting and severely disobeying another round, one of them said “We’re a police order when displaying a very the fucking law here in Barcelona! You’ll hostile and aggressive attitude towards open and close when we say!”. The police the police and students. officers broke bottles and a beer dis- 27 october penser and injured one of the waiters Barcelona, Pro-Spain demonstration that began by grabbing him by the neck. When the Barcelonès at Plaça d’Artós in the Sarrià district in Mossos arrived at the bar, they were protest at the declaration of the Catalan received by the Spanish police officers Republic . with shouts of “rats” and “fucking Cat- 143 Offices of A group of demonstrators went to the a bladed weapon. One of them was left Catalunya Ràdio. offices of Catalunya Ràdio, insulting, unconscious, on the ground, while the 7.15 pm harassing and threatening the em- rest of his friends called for help from

ployees outside the building. Once they the Mossos riot police who, according were in front of the doors, a number of to the victims, did nothing despite be- individuals starting hitting the glass ing only metres away from what had doors violently to try and enter the happened. Both injured individuals building, breaking some of the win- were taken to Hospital de Sant Pau by dows in the entrance, which led to the ambulance. During the fight, a third Mossos d’Esquadra riot police to act person from the group was also injured, but did not need to be admitted Offices of A team of 2 BETEVÉ journalists who to hospital. Catalunya Ràdio were recording the attack on Catalun- ya Ràdio were threatened and injured Passeig de A passer-by who was recording the

to prevent them from doing their job. Gràcia demonstration on his mobile saw how While one of the reporters was pushed a group of hooded demonstrators ran

by the pro-Spain demonstrators, the down the street and when they came other was intimidated to stop him from across him, one of the demonstrators recording what was happening. The punched him in the stomach. betevé company car was also attacked causing a certain amount of damage. c/ Mallorca A waiter from a restaurant who shouted “freedom” as the pro-Spain demon-

Offices of A group of demonstrators tried to steal stration went by on Carrer Mallorca Catalunya Ràdio an El País photojournalist’s camera was injured by a hooded demonstrator as he tried to cover the attack outside who punched him in the face, breaking Catalunya Ràdio. When he managed his nose and causing a blood injury. to get away from the demonstrators 28 october surrounding him, one of them kicked Barcelona, Three 60-year-old people, two men and him in the back. The events occurred Barcelonès. a woman, who were getting out of a taxi in front of a riot police cordon, which, Gràcia district in front of their house, returning home according to the victim, did absolutely 12.30 am from celebrating the declaration of the nothing to help him or prevent the ag- Catalan Republic, were injured by two

gression. neighbours who lived opposite and who on the day of celebrations had hung the Via Augusta A group of demonstrators carrying Spanish flag from their balcony. The Spanish flags tried to attack the head quarrel began when, as the female office of the Institució Cultural del victim got out of the taxi, she shouted CIC. During the attack, a group of pan- “long live the Republic!”. At this point, ic-stricken students had to take refuge the man and the woman, aged about 30, inside the centre while the demon- appeared outside their house, extreme- strators injured teachers by punching ly on edge and began beating them, them in the chest and face and leaving leaving one man unconscious, with two teachers injured. The centre had al- cranioencephalic trauma and a broken ready received 3 attacks in the form of rib. Another man received a cut to his fascist graffiti since September. eye socket caused by a fingernail and the woman was also injured when they Passeig de A group of 5 people, a libertarian group pushed her to the ground. As a result Gràcia from Gràcia,, who were going home af- of the aggression, the most-seriously ter the Catalan Republic celebrations in injured neighbour suffered a relapse of the city centre, were identified by their his depression for which he had been clothing and insulted by the pro-Spain receiving treatment for some time. demonstrators. Suddenly, a group of about 10 hooded individuals, some of Girona, Gironès. A group of 3 people went to the El Forn them wearing reinforced gloves and El Forn Pro- at night as it was being locked up and military boots, started chasing the Independence threw a chair and a waste paper basket group and caught two of them. They Centre from the bar next door at the building were brutally beaten, resulting in bruis- while shouting pro-Spanish slogans. ing all over their bodies, especially the head, and cuts to their limbs made with 144 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

Barcelona, In the early hours of the morning, a c/ Pau Claris - A street vendor wearing Sikh clothing Barcelonès. number of individuals entered by break- c/Casp selling Spanish flags was robbed and Ateneu Popular ing down the door in the courtyard and About 3 pm punched by a group of neo-Nazi dem- de Sarrià Youth painting the initials, “AE” of the Fran- onstrators (one of them had a swastika centre. coist slogan, “Arriba España” inside, tattooed on his hand). After robbing the

ripped down an estelada on the balcony vendor and a few metres away showing and stole the money from the safe. him the flags that he had stolen from 29 d’octubre him, the individual with the swastika Barcelona, Pro-Spain demonstration in the city centre tattoo said to him, “look, look, Ali Baba”. Barcelonès organised by SCC, which was also support- The Mossos d’Esquadra began an inves- ed by numerous far-right organisations: tigation on their own initiative.

c/ Casp A 62-year-old taxi driver was hit by About 3 pm A passer-by who was recording the a can that one of the demonstrators aggression and robbery committed

threw at the taxi window, which cut his against a Sikh street vendor was in- face when it shattered. The taxi driver jured by a demonstrator with a flag was attended at the scene by a Medical tied around her neck when the victim Emergency Systems ambulance and shouted “What kind of pacifism is this transferred to Hospital Sant Pau. supposed to be?” and suddenly, the aggressor, a middle-aged woman, hit him

A Catalan Government Railways (FGC) saying, “What do you want?” which made employee was injured while protecting his mobile fall to the ground and break. a young boy at the ticket validation gate at the exit to a station when a group of Plaça de Two demonstrators with Spanish flags demonstrators jumped the queue at Sant Jaume chased and punched a passer-by. The the gate and she cut her wrist as a re- 4.45 pm victim had to protect himself from the sult of the stampede. aggressors behind the Mossos d’Es-

quadra riot police cordon in front of the Passeig de A group of 4 TV3 journalists and tech- Catalan Parliament Building. Gràcia - nicians who were covering the demon- c/ Provença stration were insulted, threatened, c/ Pelai An actor who was riding his motor- pushed and had lit cigarettes and coins bike to work at the Teatre Capitol was

thrown at them. attacked by a skinhead demonstrator with a Spanish flag tied around his Passeig de Two BETEVÉ journalists who were waist. The events began with a traffic Gràcia - recording their TV3 colleagues being argument, but ended up with the very c/ Provença harassed, were insulted and threatened violent demonstrator injuring the actor

by a group of demonstrators and had to and throwing his motorbike into the leave the area where this was happen- middle of the street, leading to a group ing for their own safety. of street vendors who were in the area helping the victim, at which point the Passeig de An El Nacional journalist, who was aggressor ran off. According to the vic- Gràcia working in the area that SCC had set tim, the Guàrdia Urbana advised him up for the press was injured as he was not to file an official complaint asit

kicked while filming a group of demon- “would be a waste of time”. strators insulting journalists. Barcelona, A group of neo-Nazi demonstrators car- c/ Aragó - A man with a Spanish flag tied to his Barcelonès. rying Spanish flags, one of whom had c/ Tarragona belt insulted a man and a woman (who, Plaça de a swastika tattooed on his hand, con- according to the events that were re- Sant Jaume - fronted a Mossos d’Esquadra riot police

corded on video, was pregnant). Dur- Just before 6 pm cordon, hurling insults and objects at ing the very aggressive argument, the them. At one point during the confron- woman reprimanded the man carrying tation, a demonstrator injured a Catalan the Spanish flag, asking why he found police officer with the stick from a flag. her speaking Catalan to be a problem. Her husband told the aggressor that Plaça de Two South American tourists were what he was saying was xenophobic Catalunya injured by a far-right demonstrator and then the aggressor hit the husband who a few hours earlier had attacked a hard in the face. Mossos d’Esquadra police officer with 145 the stick from a flag. The aggressor was 2 november detained at the scene. Barcelona, A man who was walking along the Barcelonès. pavement with his bicycle was attacked Plaça de A group of 4 demonstrators with c/ Diputació - by an individual who was with two Catalunya Spanish flags who boarded a train con- c/ Rocafort friends on a bar terrace. The events 8 pm fronted a number of passengers with occurred when the residents in this

clearly racially-motivated actions as district began banging saucepans on they shouted and punched the train their balconies in protest at the polit- carriage. One of the demonstrators ical prisoners and a group of 3 people raised his arm and gave the Nazi sa- at a bar terrace shouted in support of lute, shouting “Heil Hitler!” as a North Spain. The cyclist then rang his bell to African man entered the carriage. They join in with the protest and one of the then suddenly threatened an SER jour- pro-Spain supporters insulted him. The nalist as she recorded the events. This cyclist asked him for an explanation same group of demonstrators had al- and was punched in the face by the in- ready been involved in other incidents dividual who had insulted him. during the day. 30 october Santa Coloma A woman who was banging a saucepan Barcelona, Pro-Spain rally (attended by well-known de Gramenet, in support for the political prisoners Barcelonès neo-Nazi activists) in reaction to an Barcelonès was insulted, threatened and attacked anti-fascist demonstration held at the by an individual. The events occurred crossroads of Carrer Mandri and Ronda when the aggressor, who lives in this

del General Mitre: district, picked up a piece of wood from the side of a container and threw this

A pro-Spain demonstrator approached object several times from street level a freelance photojournalist shouting at the woman while threatening to kill his name and surname, saying that he her. The victim’s blinds were damaged. should not take any photos if he did not 4 november want them to break a stick over his head Mataró, Pro-Spain supporters’ rally called by a lo- and then made the gesture of raising the Maresme cal platform at which far-right militants stick that they would use to attack him. and organisations were present:

A pro-Spain demonstrator, who had c/ Fray Luis A man and a woman who were leav- previously threatened a photojournal- de León ing a relative’s house were attacked by ist, injured a freelance photographer a group of demonstrators. During the

who was working in the area by hitting aggression, the assailants attacked the him over the head with a stick. man, injuring his hand that had recently been operated on by shoving him and c/ Ganduxer Two anti-fascist demonstrators who, kicking him once they had him on the once the march had finished, started to ground. While they were hitting him, look for their car near where the event one of the attackers shouted “Heil Hit- had begun, were injured by a group of ler!” The young man had to be taken to demonstrators in far-right clothing. a medical centre where he received a The assailants attacked the two victims number of stitches to his lip. from behind, punching and kicking them. Some of the attackers were wear- Plaça de les A couple were attacked by a group of ing hoods and one of them, whose face Tereses about 7 demonstrators carrying Span- was covered, was wearing a gum shield 7 pm ish flags. The aggressors surrounded the like the ones used in contact sports. couple hitting and pushing them while

shouting slogans such as “Send Pu- 31 october igdemónt to prison” and “Arriba España”. El Prat de The daughter of a councillor from the 5 november Llobregat, Baix Catalan Interior Department was har- Barcelona, A pedestrian saw someone painting Llobregat. assed, insulted and injured when she Barcelonès. pro-Spain slogans on the front door of El Prat Airport was pushed and hit by a group of pro- c/ Camprodon, a private house. When the pedestrian Spain supporters who chanting taunts Gràcia district reproached the man for his actions and

at councillors returning from Brussels. took a photo of it as a record, the man

The victim needed medical assistance insulted him by calling him a “separatist for a panic attack. bastard” and when the man grabbed 146 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

the pedestrian, trying to punch him, Manresa, Bages. A group of about half a dozen people the victim was able to escape. Plaça Major tore down and stole part of a giant este- 6 november lada valued at €2,000 that was covering

Sant Cugat del A number of incidents occurred dur- a large part of the façade of a building. Vallès, Vallès ing a pro-Spain demonstration with Occidental. a strong far-right militant presence 10 november In front of the in protest at a poster supporting the Sabadell, Vallès A group of journalists covering a town hall political prisoners that was hanging Occidental demonstration called by pro-unity So-

on the front of the hall. A group of pro- cietat Civil Catalana (SCC) which was

Spain demonstrators tore at the poster also attended by far-right groups such and ripped it down in plain sight of the as Somatemps and DN were intimi- Local Police. There were insults and dated, insulted and threatened. The threats made to passers-by, as well as journalists affected were from Cata- threats and intimidation against TV3 lunya Ràdio, Rac1, Nació Sabadell, Euroa and Tot Sant Cugat journalists. Press, Ràdio Sabadell, Agència Catalana 8 november de Notícies and a correspondent from Lleida, Segrià. During the mobilisations on the day of the German agency, Ruptly. The events c/ Major the General Strike a pro-Spain support- began when a demonstrator mistook er insulted a group of pickets on Car- the Ruptly journalist for a TV3 reporter,

rer Major shouting “Viva España!” This setting off the demonstrators’ anger, individual attacked two Segre and La who then surrounded and threatened Mañana journalists and also punched the journalists to such an extent that 7 someone taking part in the strike. of them had to stop working and leave the square escorted by the Local Police. Cardedeu, Vallès A known activist from Mataró involved Oriental. in the organisation of pro-Spain demon- Barcelona, Pro-Spain graffiti, Nazi symbols and rac- AP-7 motorway strations in the town threatened to run Barcelonès. ist and anti-Semitic slogans appeared Horta district over some strikers who had blocked the on the door of a bookshop. The locks on

motorway. He also encouraged other the shop door had also been sealed with drivers to run them over with their ve- silicon. The bookshop, which in recent hicles, while insulting the pickets with weeks had observed the two General shouts of “bastards, queers, filthy dogs”. Strikes and had hung up pro-referendum material, had been receiving in- Mataró, An individual threw some large metal sults and threats for some days from Maresme. bolts at strikers. He threw these bolts, pro-Spain residents. The shop’s awning Via Europa which did not cause any injuries, from had also recently been damaged and had a balcony on the fourth floor of a build- been cut from top to bottom.

ing. After this, he waved a Spanish flag 11 november and then hid inside the building. Reus, Baix Camp. A Reus Diari journalist was threatened, Plaça del insulted with shouts of “bitch” and Tagamanent, A young demonstrator who was blocking Mercadal pushed while covering a pro-Spain

Vallès Oriental. the road was injured by the impact of a demonstration. C-17 vehicle when it jumped the picket barrier as the driver shouted “Viva España!” The 12 november

young person required medical attention. Castellgalí, Bages Three pro-Spain supporters who were returning from a demonstration in

Santa Coloma At a Ciutadans pre-campaign rally for the Manresa organised by Hermanos Cru- de Gramenet, Catalan Parliament elections, and while zados (HHCC), Somatemps and DN, Barcelonès. their candidate, Inés Arrimadas, was attacked a 56-year-old man inside a Sagarra market talking to the press criticising the Gen- local restaurant. The three demonstra- eral Strike, an individual in the crowd tors entered the establishment carry-

grabbed a woman shouting “Viva Ciu- ing flags and when the owner of the dadanos!” and then pushed and insulted bar asked them to leave them outside, her. The woman, who was accompanied the activists reacted by insulting and by two of her family, was watching the threatening the owner and injuring a event near people who were against the customer with an object they used to presence of the Ciutadans candidate, but stab him in the face. The victim was did not do or say anything that might transferred to Manresa’s Hospital Sant attract the aggressor’s attention. Joan de Déu in a MES ambulance. 147 13 november shouts of “you’re terrorists”, “you’re all Barcelona, A resident received the impact of buck- going to hell”, “you, the bitch who’s talking Barcelonès. shot to the window of a room where (...), go home and do the housework, pig, Sant Martí district. she had hung an estelada. It turns out you haven’t made the beds”, “you should 12.30 am that there had been similar incidents in all be in prison and shot, if Franco were to the area in recent months. come back, he wouldn’t leave any of you alive. You’re all bastards”. 25 november 16 november Sant Just Desvern, In the early hours, a number of houses Parets del Vallès, At a support rally for the political prison- Baix Llobregat had posters and flags ripped off the bal- Vallès Oriental ers, three individuals with Spanish flags conies and terraces lining their façades.

interrupted the minute’s silence being In one case, stones were thrown at the

held at the meeting and insulted and house. Pro-Spain graffiti appeared dur- tried to attack someone by grabbing him, ing the same night and also on private which was prevented due to the sheer houses. Up to four residents filed offi- number of pro-independence supporters. cial complaints regarding these events for damage to their homes, intimida- Malgrat de Mar, Following a pro-Spain rally in front tion and threats. Maresme of the town hall, some of the activists 26 november entered the plenary session where in- Girona, Gironès. A young man was insulted and threat-

cidents occurred with councillors from Exteriors of RENFE ened for wearing a yellow ribbon on the Catalan European Democratic Par- railway station his jacket lapel. That same day, there ty (PDeCAT). The first deputy mayor had been a pro-Spain demonstration in of this party was injured by a blow to Girona and a group of young demon- the back when the councillors, who had strators harassed and threatened him been insulted by the pro-Spain demon- saying “hey, you with the yellow ribbon, strators, were shoved out of the plenary either you take it off, or we will”, “you don’t hall after the mayor had suspended the have the balls, you queer”, and “you should plenary due to shouting by the demon- be in prison”. strators. Some of the pro-Spain demonstrators pursued the injured councillor Vallirana, Baix At the end of a pro-Spain demonstra- to her house where they insulted her Llobregat tion attended by members of the far- and her family. right, a group of 7 or 8 demonstrators,

19 november some of them DN militants, went to a Barcelona, In the early hours of the morning, bar in the town carrying Spanish flags Barcelonès. a number of individuals entered by that were fascist in appearance (accord- Ateneu Popular breaking a window that was accessible ing to a witness, one of the flags had de Sarrià Youth from the courtyard and painted graffiti the Celtic cross). The bar owner said centre. of the Falangist emblem inside. They that if they wanted to enter the bar, also destroyed items, breaking furni- they would have to leave the flags out- ture and objects inside the building. side, which led to the demonstrators being aggressive. One of them hit the 21 november bar owner in the face and the other, a Barcelona, A woman was hurt in the back at a rally known DN militant, threw some bottles Barcelonès. of public workers against the applica- that were on the bar at the wall. Plaça de tion of Article 155 of the Spanish Con- Sant Jaume stitution when she was pushed and hit 2 december in the face by a man who insulted those Balsareny, Bages A group of around 30 pro-Spain demon-

present for political reasons. strators, some of them wearing hoods, chanted taunts outside the house of the 22 november town’s ERC mayor. Although the may- Manresa, Bages. A group of seniors who were taking or was not at home at the time of the Collbaix a photo with an estelada on the top demonstration, his family was. The pro- mountain of the mountain were insulted and Spain demonstrators threw eggs at the threatened by an individual accompa- front of his house, burned estelada flags nied by a dog classified as a potentially and taunted his family and neighbours dangerous breed. The man seriously by ringing the automatic doorbell con- intimidated, threatened and insulted stantly, wedging a toothpick into the the pro-independence supports with bell so that it would not stop ringing. 148 MÈDIA.CAT YEARBOOK

3 december sors punched him and kicked him all Barcelona, A man who was walking accompanied over his body. He managed to get away Barcelonès. by his two young children ran into a from the aggressors with the help of a Passeig stand of the pro-Spain and leftist polit- passer-by, but they followed him while Torras i Bages ical group, Recortes Cero (Zero Cuts). An he was talking to the Mossos on his argument then broke out after one of phone, at which point he was attacked the children ripped down a poster and a again by the man who had torn down shouting match ensued with a member the estelada. Shortly after this, a Mossos of the party insulting and injuring the d’Esquadra patrol car intercepted the children’s father by kicking him in the group on Carrer Balboa and when they genitals and hitting him in the chest. identified them, they turned out to be 5 december off-duty members of the Guardia Civil. Barcelona, A man spotted a man tearing down During the identification process of the Barcelonès. Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) election man who had torn down the estelada, Carretera de posters and reprimanded him for his he denied doing this, tried to run away Sants attitude, telling him to stop. This person and insulted the Mossos, which led to an replied saying that he would do what official complaint being filed for disobe- he wanted and that if the man tried to dience against the Guardia Civil officer,

stop him, he would beat him to death, another for aggression filed by the vic- as he was a boxer. Seeing that the victim tim, another filed by the owner of the would not give in, the aggressor pushed property for tearing down the flag and him while shouting Catalanophobic another filed by the off-duty Guardia insults and Francoist slogans, such as Civil officer, who claimed he was the “fucking Catalans” and “long live Franco”. victim of the aggression. At that moment, several passers-by rep- 10 december rimanded the aggressor for his attitude, El Pont de A group of pro-Spain supporters at- surrounding him with the aim of isolat- Vilomara, Bages tacked two CUP supporters by hitting ing him until he eventually walked off. them as they put up electoral mate-

7 december rial. The incident started when the Viladecans, A group of militants from JERC were pro-Spain supporters, who were well- Baix Llobregat. jeered at and attacked while putting up known in the town for their activism, 11.30 pm election campaign posters. The young- were tearing down the pro-independ- sters were attacked when pieces of ence posters, arguing that they were wood were thrown at them by a group very close to the “Arrimadas posters” of pro-Spain supporters, but there were (referring to the Ciutadans candidate) no injuries. that they themselves had put up the 8 december previous night. The argument led to an Salt, Gironès A militant from Independents per Salt aggression when one of the pro-Spain - CUP was attacked when he was hit supporters punched and hit two of the by a group of 3 individuals of neo-Nazi CUP supporters. One of the victims appearance who shouted “bastard” and filed an official complaint with the “viva España” as he was putting up CUP Mossos d’Esquadra for the aggression election material. The victim had to seek and for tearing down electoral material. shelter in a nearby shop to get away 11 december from the aggressors and he subsequent- El Figaró, A woman was tearing down the yel- ly filed an official complaint regarding Vallès Oriental low ribbons, attached in support of these events with the local police. the political prisoners, from a bridge

9 december that crosses the village and that Barcelona, A man saw a group of 6 people ripping goes over the C-17 road. A group of Barcelonès. down an estelada tied to a ground floor residents reprimanded the woman c/ d’Alcanar, property. The aggression began when for her attitude telling her to stop, Barceloneta the victim reprimanded the group who especially as she was throwing the district were tearing down the flag, warning ribbons on to the road, which posed them that he would call the police if a danger to road safety. The woman, they did it. Suddenly, as he was about who was carrying a large pair of scis- to call the emergency services, at least sors, reacted very violently by kick- 3 of the aggressors jumped on him and ing one of the victims and injuring while one of them immobilised the another by grabbing him to stop him victim by sitting on him, the 3 aggres- recording her on his mobile phone. 149