UnNews:Catalan independence march under threat
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Today is the 300th anniversary of Catalonia's surrender to Spain, and independence campaigners find their plan to form a giant "V" is under threat from other groups.
Catalanistas had hoped to follow up last year's huge human chain by lining up along two of Barcelona's main roads in a V-shaped formation, standing for voluntat, voto and victoria - will, vote, and victory in a forthcoming referendum.
However, anarchists have flooded social media with plans to turn the V into an A for Anarchy sign. While adolescents up and down the country have noted that this would look "really cool", critics have been quick to point out that it sits awkwardly alongside normal anarchic movements.
Barcelona resident Joanna Corey told us, "All over town there is graffiti saying, 'Squat in your houses, rob the supermarkets, bring down the banks'. How does one reconcile that with the undeniably gay activity of standing around to form a big letter?
"I am pretty sure that's not how the revolution started in Cuba."
It was, by definition, difficult to find a "leader" of the anarchist cause, but UnNews managed to grab two youngsters wearing V for Vendetta masks.
One told us, "This is the future of politics: flagrant disregard for the status quo, and amazing aerial photos we can post on Facebook."
His companion added, "We will bring down the government, even if it means holding hands and spelling out a big A in every town in the country."
As if all this wasn't enough, the independentistas and the anarchists are both under threat from the city's irate ice cream men. The summer was unseasonably mild this year in Barcelona, meaning purveyors of frozen goods have been hit hard.
Consequently, the union has plans to form a convoy of vans, driving the anarchists up towards the top of the independence fighters' V, forcing both groups to inadvertently form a huge ice cream cone shape.
The atmosphere in the city is tense this morning, but one thing is sure: by the end of the day someone will have spelled something in the streets of Barcelona.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Leverage, "Catalan Independence Activists Challenge Government on Vote" Wall Street Journal, September 11 2014
