Catalonia’s independence movement continues to grow as the next generation step up

As it does every 11 September, Catalonia’s independence movement commemorates the date in 1714 when Catalonia heroically lost the war against Castile and was subjugated against its will.

Its institutions, which were more democratic than those of Castile, were abolished. Its respectful confederalism between Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Country and Aragon became a simple and impoverishing dependency on Madrid. Its Catalan language, with its rich literature and lively popular use, was banned and persecuted. Trade with the Mediterranean gave way to the conquest of America; thousands of Catalans were humiliated by being forced to destroy their own homes and thousands more were mercilessly murdered.

Catalonia has never accepted this situation and has always wanted to regain its full sovereignty, but it has suffered constant imposition and repression. Now Spain is part of the EU and claims to be a democracy, so it would not be appropriate for it to bomb and subjugate Barcelona as it has done in the past. For this reason, since 2010, a powerful independence movement has emerged which, every 11 September, has organised the largest mass demonstrations in Europe. This 11 September, three large demonstrations were held across the territory: Barcelona, Girona, and Tortosa.

Catalonia’s independence: young people are rising up

These demonstrations, despite being massive and unthinkable in other parts of the world, had two notable features. On the negative side, there was slightly less turnout than before the 2017 referendum (this can be considered normal given that there have been 15 consecutive years of mass demonstrations). And on the very positive side, more and more young people are demonstrating:

These are young people who were unable to vote in the 2017 referendum, but who are deeply convinced that Catalonia needs to break free from Spain if it is to survive and have a better future. They clearly perceive that the Spanish state considers us its property and treats us like a colony.

The independence movement must find a way to overcome Spain’s refusal to allow a democratic solution (because they know that Catalonia would vote to leave). Spain wants to force us to remain part of its state, something that is unjustifiable in a democracy.

At the same time, we are also disappointed with the EU, which has allowed Spain’s abuse. Spain is trying to marginalise the Catalan language so that Spanish ends up being the language spoken in Catalonia. It is also strangling the Catalan economy, reducing funding for Catalan infrastructure and social services, coercing Catalan politics, prosecuting pro-independence activists, organising clandestine operations to defeat Catalan independence, illegally spying, infiltrating police into social movements.

All this makes a political solution seem more complicated, but at the same time, it makes Spanish imposition unbearable, especially for young people. And many people already live mentally outside Spain, oblivious to the unifying elements of banal Spanish nationalism.

Spain cannot hold Catalans captive

The fact is that Spain does not want to resolve the conflict, but rather wants us to accept the status quo as inevitable. However, we Catalans are the descendants of one of the greatest medieval nations that ruled the Mediterranean, and our desire for freedom is unshakeable. That is why, despite the continuous waves of migration that have arrived in our country, recently at some of the highest rates in the world, this immigration has been successfully integrated into Catalan society rather than diluting it and causing the Catalan language to disappear.

Sooner or later, Spain will have to accept that it cannot keep Catalonia captive against its will. The desire for freedom of Catalan nationalism, which is resistant, would be reason enough to justify the need for freedom, but in addition, Catalan society has ways of being and doing things that are too different from those of Madrid, where, around the monarchy and an aggressive and domineering Spanish nationalism, an extractive economic class is articulated that vampirises the entire state for its own benefit.

That is why it is important to know that Catalonia will not stop fighting until it achieves freedom.

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