Spanish National Day sees rivaling rallies at Barcelona’s Columbus monument

Far-right groups take to the streets to celebrate holiday, while anti-racist activists condemn colonialism and demand reparations

An anti-colonialist protester in Barcelona on Spain's National Day (by Gerard Artigas)
An anti-colonialist protester in Barcelona on Spain's National Day (by Gerard Artigas) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

October 12, 2020 07:59 PM

In a year when Barcelona’s monument to Cristopher Columbus faced renewed criticism from Black Lives Matter-inspired movements, the city’s most iconic statue has become the stage for rivaling demonstrations on Spain’s National Day on October 12—a holiday marking the conquistador’s arrival in the American continent in 1492. 

In the morning, demonstrations called by far-right groups such as the Vox party converged at the foot of the monument, where a priest officiated and called Virgin Mary the "founder of Spain".

400 people attended the protest, according to Barcelona’s local police.