Thousands of Catalonian students took to the streets yesterday in the latest push for an independence referendum to take place on November 9th as planned, after the Spanish government decided to suspend it.
Wearing white masks with black tape across the mouth as well as yellow shirts to symbolize independence, demonstrators yelled “Votarem, votaremos” (We will vote) and waved an alternative, and unofficial, Catalan flag while marching in Barcelona, their capital city.
Secondary and sixth-form aged students took party in the protest, which has galvanised the youth vote in Spain (incidentally a member of the ruling Popular Party's youth wing posted topless pictures of herself on Twitter the other day to erm... express her support for the anti-independence movement).
ANYWAY, back to the protests, which thankfully didn't dissolve into violence, despite the riot police forming a barrier against the protestors. But the Catalonian government (who have much less power to legislate than the Spanish government) have already withdrawn pro-referendum advertising, and members of the Convergència i Unió (the party that rule the region) have stated that it's unfair to put pressure on members to vote for something that will probably be overruled.
Either way, it's good to see young people getting so involved in politics, in a peaceful, non-violent way. Something for us to think about before next May - amiright?
READ MORE: A Few Smart Things To Say About Chanel's Feminist Protest
[
You might also be interested in...
Turkey's Attempt To Block Twitter Has Been A Massive Failure
Over 4000 People Protest In Glasgow After Five Rapes In Five Weeks
Our Ovaries, Our Decision: Meet The Spanish Girls With A Clear Message For Their President
Follow Stevie on Twitter: @5tevieM
Picture: Rex
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.