Thousands of Catalan separatists stepped up protests against the Spanish state on Thursday after a police swoop on regional officials deepened Catalonia’s power struggle with Madrid over a planned independence referendum.
Pro-independence supporters in Barcelona were exhorted to prepare for a protracted battle against the Spanish government, which wants to stop Catalonia’s regional administration holding the vote on October 1.
Protesters outside the economy ministry shouted “we are not afraid” and “it does not bite, it’s a ballot box”. At the city’s high court buildings they shouted “we will vote!” and “hello democracy”.
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