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A man holds a poster calling for the exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to be president of the Catalan Republic. EPA/Quique Garcia
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Thousands of people marched in Barcelona on Sunday to protest the jailing of nine Catalan separatist leaders facing trial on rebellion charges. AFP/Josep LAGO
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A girl with her face painted with an estelada or independence flag is photographed during the protest. AP/Manu Fernandez
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Protesters walk behind a banner reading 'In favour of rights and freedoms. We want you at home', referring to the jailed separatist leaders. AFP/Josep LAGO
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Catalans chanted "Freedom for the political prisoners" as they massed on the Parallel Avenue, one of the city's main streets, wearing yellow scarves, sweaters or jackets - tthe colour chosen to show solidarity with the jailed leaders. AP/Manu Fernandez
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Demonstrators rest during the protest. More than 300,000 Catalan separatists rallied in downtown Barcelona, according to local authorities. AP/Manu Fernandez
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SYNZFUMVSTD5MC37XHO532RGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff1c7b905895959b6444eab16af9e6ff1bd8c644b6c4a26ebfcfaca30d90bc39&width=400&height=225)
The protest was held six months after the imprisonment of Catalan presidential candidate Jordi Sanchez and pro-independence organisation Omnium Cultural's President, Jordi Cuixart. EPA/Andreu Dalmau
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Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent, right, takes part in the demonstration, which was called by the Catalan platform Espai Democracia i Convivencia. EPA/Quique Garcia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VEY5TTWO4L5HW3R4XMKFKXMZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e7acb3e31c38eb9a43aaa57c676dd53e891efec095c2de22c5c9dcf7114955f&width=400&height=225)
The Catalan flag was prominently displayed during Sunday's massive demonstration. EPA/Quique Garcia
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A protester holds up a placard with a portrait of jailed former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras during the demonstration. AFP/Josep LAGO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCZYNWBDRHWFU56AVUZRHHQLH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5211bb66d8ccad60a2894c28f86675f133958a450306dab8ad891359b54e5a2a&width=400&height=225)
A man holds a poster calling for the exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to be president of the Catalan Republic. EPA/Quique Garcia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3OVQ5RUES4P4J5IIZXMET7D4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a4cbf00dadf6dd4bdbce1dd1f3937d5b980cbf7ae33e0535341bb435bea7feb&width=400&height=225)
Thousands of people marched in Barcelona on Sunday to protest the jailing of nine Catalan separatist leaders facing trial on rebellion charges. AFP/Josep LAGO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VD7DT52OVLQNS7TOZJFUQHXJ24.jpg?smart=true&auth=dbd11abcff5e31700b9984728db122e8a0a60d221f6c50de183b4d782e1c1509&width=400&height=225)
A girl with her face painted with an estelada or independence flag is photographed during the protest. AP/Manu Fernandez
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6A7HW47DVBOV2MOII6MZADLQZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4adbf520ed3d493c6720d8245d1ec72ae43789455b992c558329ad92b481e547&width=400&height=225)
Protesters walk behind a banner reading 'In favour of rights and freedoms. We want you at home', referring to the jailed separatist leaders. AFP/Josep LAGO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKYESN5L6CUTEGW4SKIBKXF7DU.jpg?smart=true&auth=316bfc36db3e04a597f81b82c45d357ae915b2e2853b8e6d5219721cebca207d&width=400&height=225)
Catalans chanted "Freedom for the political prisoners" as they massed on the Parallel Avenue, one of the city's main streets, wearing yellow scarves, sweaters or jackets - tthe colour chosen to show solidarity with the jailed leaders. AP/Manu Fernandez
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XK55W5ZISCBMMIFICDSEEIPJ74.jpg?smart=true&auth=9339c71f1ab29ce3a8dac6f2d0f65828c1f1149ee3f2974fc2a0b61f0b9c22da&width=400&height=225)
Demonstrators rest during the protest. More than 300,000 Catalan separatists rallied in downtown Barcelona, according to local authorities. AP/Manu Fernandez
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SYNZFUMVSTD5MC37XHO532RGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff1c7b905895959b6444eab16af9e6ff1bd8c644b6c4a26ebfcfaca30d90bc39&width=400&height=225)
The protest was held six months after the imprisonment of Catalan presidential candidate Jordi Sanchez and pro-independence organisation Omnium Cultural's President, Jordi Cuixart. EPA/Andreu Dalmau
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJRYEMQP55WE3MHXGEIW7EAMPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=59e52a1cbd5d03c1a9505d535a27ffc88494e8b693f3db1f067840b3c5bc313a&width=400&height=225)
Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent, right, takes part in the demonstration, which was called by the Catalan platform Espai Democracia i Convivencia. EPA/Quique Garcia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VEY5TTWO4L5HW3R4XMKFKXMZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e7acb3e31c38eb9a43aaa57c676dd53e891efec095c2de22c5c9dcf7114955f&width=400&height=225)
The Catalan flag was prominently displayed during Sunday's massive demonstration. EPA/Quique Garcia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YH5ECZFMX346NN3RUBC2F52LUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb0acfea53b319782d5544a506362fc6d0960617b2efcfdbad6243717250c74f&width=400&height=225)
A protester holds up a placard with a portrait of jailed former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras during the demonstration. AFP/Josep LAGO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCZYNWBDRHWFU56AVUZRHHQLH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5211bb66d8ccad60a2894c28f86675f133958a450306dab8ad891359b54e5a2a&width=400&height=225)
A man holds a poster calling for the exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to be president of the Catalan Republic. EPA/Quique Garcia
300,000 march in Barcelona against jailing of separatist leaders
Protest came six months after the first incarcerations of top Catalan leaders over their separatist push
Agence France Presse
16 April, 2018
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