Hundreds of thousands of people attended the rally for Spanish unity in barcelona. The protest comes amid the ongoing tensions in Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia.
Catalonia independence: Huge Barcelona pro-Spain rally https://t.co/xQN2JbvCCV #WORLD pic.twitter.com/o6FScbjEfn
— Funk Mainstream (@fmsmnews) October 29, 2017
On Friday, the Catalan parliament adopted a resolution declaring the region's independence from Spain in the form of a republic.
#Catalonia is Spain. Common sense people flooding the streets of #Barcelona today. pic.twitter.com/kTiXyzZEOl
— My_name_is (@_No_Name_No1) October 29, 2017
According to local police, about 300,000 residents of Barcelona came to the city center to support Spain's territorial integrity. People brought Spanish national flags with them, sang songs and chanted slogans.
Demonstration in Barcelona in favour of the union of Spain. 1,5 million people. Catalonia is Spain#TotsSomCatalunya pic.twitter.com/7GHqBiMAl3
— ESPAÑA EN ALERTA (@espanaenalerta) October 29, 2017
Earlier in the day, an opinion poll was published in the El Mundo newspaper. The survey shows that the Catalan society is divided over the decision taken by the regions' authorities to secede from Spain. According to the poll, only 42.5 percent of Catalans support independence, while 43.5 percent of respondents are against it.
Following the declaration of independence, Spain's Senate voted to invoke Article 155 of the onstitution and thus impose direct rule on Catalonia by dissolving local the parliament and firing the devolved government.
