2023 guide to Catalan National Day pro-independence protest in Barcelona
Find out when, where, and why the demonstration is taking place
For the past 11 years, mass pro-independence demonstrations have taken place in Barcelona on September 11, with millions of people attending events commemorating the fall of Barcelona in 1714 during the Spanish War of Succession and the territory’s loss of sovereignty.
While participation has dwindled in the past few years and many in the independence movement have expressed displeasure with politicians, this year there will once again be a large rally in the Catalan capital.
Organized by the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) civil society organization, this year's motto is "Via Fora," which they translate as "Gung Ho" and describe as "a medieval cry that was used as a call to arms to defend the country and fight for its freedoms."
The ANC condemns what it calls Spain's "systematic campaign of repression against the Catalan people" and demands greater involvement from the European Union, which it says should stop treating the issue as an "internal matter."
The organization also calls on Catalans to "take the reins" as it argues talks – sponsored by Catalonia's ruling Esquerra Republicana party – with the Spanish government have failed.
This year's demonstration will be made up of four columns representing "the fundamental values of the future Catalan republic, freedom, language, country, and sovereignty."
These will depart from Ciutat de la Justícia (freedom), Escola Proa (language), Plaça dels Països Catalans (country), and Plaça del Doctor Letamendi (sovereignty) at 5:14 pm, although people are advised to arrive earlier.
The columns will make their way to Plaça Espanya square, a location the organization has re-named Plaça 1 d'Octubre in reference to the date of Catalonia's independence referendum deemed illegal by Spain.