Around 6,500 students strike and rally in Barcelona to 'stop genocide against Palestine'

Student unions in Catalonia called a strike and rallies on Tuesday to "stop the genocide against the Palestinian people."

In Barcelona, around 6,500 students, according to local police Guàrdia Urbana, were urged to leave classes and gather at Plaça Universitat at 12 noon. The demonstration started a few minutes later after minutes of chants in favor of Palestine and against Israel.

"We must put an end to this and put a stop to the worst genocide of the 21st century," Lua Millet, one of the spokespersons said at the start of the rally.

"We will organize the biggest demonstration Barcelona has ever seen," she added.

Protesters at the rally chanted slogans such as "Free, free Palestine" and "Boycott Israel." During the march, many screamed against Israel and wondered where are the governments that are supposed to be in favor of Palestine. Many said that the "Zionist State, is a terrorist state."

The demonstration started at Universitat Square and walked down the city center to Sant Jaume square, where the Catalan government headquarters and the Barcelona city council are located.

Throughout the route, demonstrators faced several international businesses, such as Burger King, Carrefour, and Starbucks, and called for a boycott on those establishments. 

Some of the protests included placing stickers on the windows, writing on the doors, and even kicking the windows. Mossos d'Esquadra police pulled into the government headquarters one of the young demonstrators.

Some of the posters visible during the rally read: 'I cannot believe I must protest against a genocide,' or 'Gaza bloods to death, the world remains quiet.'

A rally had also been called in Tarragona, beginning at Plaça Imperial Tàrraco at the same time of 12 noon. Organizers said there were around 300 people, among them, Anhel Escorihuela, one of the spokesperson for the Sindicat d'Estudiants, who said that "everybody has the responsability to fight for this genocide to come to an end."

In Tarragona, Maria and Queralt, two high-school students from the town of Montblanc said that they took to the streets to "condemn the inhuman events taking place in Palestine."

There were around 200 more demonstrators in the northern city of Girona, who halted classes at the University of Girona.

Flotilla sends video message

"The genocidal state of Israel is intercepting the humanitarian Global Sumud Flotilla with 20 military vessels," the Sindicat d'Estudiants posted on X on Wednesday evening. "This is unbearable, break all ties with Israel now! Stop the genocide! Everyone to the protests tomorrow!"

Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla sent a video message calling for participation in the student strike.