Almost 42,000 protestors at La Diada pro-independence demonstrations in Barcelona, Tortosa and Girona

Around 28,000 pro-independence demonstrators gathered in Barcelona to mark La Diada – Catalonia's National Day – and renew calls for independence.

Similar pro-independence demonstrations were held in Tortosa, southern Catalonia, and in Girona, in the north, with 1,700 and 12,000 protestors respectively, according to local police from the two cities.

All three demonstrations began at the symbolic time of 17:14, representing the year of the fall of Barcelona and the defeat of Catalonia in the War of the Spanish Succession.

A source from the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), one of the major organizers behind the protest, said that the three rallies were attended by over 100,000 people.

"Although the ANC does not normally issue attendence figures, we believe it is crucial not to leave the figures to those who want to put an end to our nation," the source said.

They also said that "despite the torrential rain in Barcelona, society has, once again, given a lesson to those to believe the independence push is dead." 

The ANC considers the demonstrations to be a "success," regardeless of the figures. They also pointed out that "year after year, it continues to be the most important demonstration in Catalonia, and that the will for an independent territory continues."

After torrential rain earlier in the day, the sun broke through the clouds as crowds gathered in Pla de Palau, in Barcelona's Old Town under the slogan 'Més motius que mai: independència' (More reasons than ever: Independence).

One hour before the demonstration started, organizers announced that "despite the rain forecast in Barcelona, the demonstration scheduled for this afternoon is still planned to take place."

From Pla de Palau, protesters marched along Passeig d'Isabel II and Passeig de Colom, to arrive at Plaça del Portal de la Pau.

Among the demonstrators, there were youngsters Diego and Pau, who said that "it is true that in recent years, we have seen fewer youngsters demonstrating, but I think it is important to come on September 11 [Catalan National Day] to defend our nation, our culture, the Catalan language, which is disappearing. Inside rooms, in institutions, and that's why we think it is important to come," they said.

One of the reasons why they protested is because "youngsters do not speak Catalan anymore, at schools children are speaking between themselves in Spanish, and language is something that unites and it is being lost, and that is what we want to defend, as we love it because it is a very beautiful language and it cannot be lost, and it has to be promoted."

Meanwhile, Mercè demonstrated because she wants independence. The "goal has always been the same," she told Catalan News. She said that due to the rain, at the beginning they thought that there would be fewer people, "but in the end it kind of became a little bit more crowded."

Manifesto

The demonstration ended at the beginning of La Rambla, where the central Diada stage was located. The march arrived around 6pm, and the political event began 30 minutes later.

The closing was reduced due to the rain warning with the speech by the President of the ANC, Lluís Llach, which was broadcasted in Girona and Tortosa.

The civil society groups behind the rally said that "for technical and security reasons, the political event could be altered." This resulted in a shorter version of the event, with Llach being the only one to read the manifesto.

"We need financial prosperity," Llach said from the manifesto, and he said that the "most valuable financial tool Catalonia has is our territory."

Llach also expressed the discontent with judges who are not granting the amnesty law to many pro-independence figures, such as former Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, who left Spain in 2017 after the October 1 independence referendum.

"We urge with the hope that it is not useless, we urge our institutions to not allow for the obsession of a judge to blow our school, we urge it with few hopes," he said.

"If the Spanish State and its tribunals want to impose this ruling, we must disobey in rooms, on the streets and in the institutions. Not a single judge can tell us which language we use," Llach said before attendees started chanting.

The leader of the ANC referred to the Catalan High Court decision to annul large part of educational decree that protected Catalan as working language.

The event ended with a large photo of Spain's King Felipe VI upside down, to the chant of thousands saying: "We do not have a king."

The demonstrations were organized by the ANC, with Òmnium Cultural, the AMI, the Consell de la República, the Intersindical union, CIEMEN and the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs).

Support plummets

The demonstration takes place after over a decade of yearly rallies in favor of the Catalan independence. This year, it also coincides with the second Diada under Socialist Salvador Illa's government, who is openly against independence.

In fact, support for independence among Catalans aged 18 to 24 has plummeted from 47% to 27% over the past decade – primarily in favor of the status quo: Catalonia as an autonomous community within Spain. 

The 18-24 age group has seen the most dramatic drop in support for independence, falling from over half in 2013, to roughly 50% in 2015, and now to under 30%, according to surveys by the Centre for Opinion Studies (CEO).