A COALITION of an estimated 4,000 dedicated anti-fascists from across Catalunya, assembled on the bustling tourist attraction of the church of Santa Maria del mar in central Barcelona on Thursday, to oppose a provocative gesture by the new ultra far right party – Aliança Catalana.
Approximately 300 hard right fascists had announced previously they were planning to lay flowers, including wreathes containing the initials of their political party, at the Fossar de les Moreres (grave of the mulberries) – a memorial dedicated to the fallen Catalans who were killed defending the city, which was laid siege to during the war of Spanish succession in 1714, following which, Catalunya lost its independence.
Aliança Catalana, formed as a political party in 2023, aimed to claim and hold the memorial square the day before the national day of Catalunya – 11th September.
With assistance from the Mossos d’esquadra (Catalan police) they were assisted to the memorial to perform this provocation and with it, to continue to attempt be the loudest voice of independence from Spain in Catalan politics, on an anti-immigration platform.
Within the maze of tiny mediaeval streets and intersecting squares, the Mossos successfully protected the fascists, funnelling them down an alleyway at the side of a shop.
Anti-fascists blocked every other entrance in large numbers.
The difficulty of defending significant landmarks within the old city playing out in the modern era, only this time assisted with AI facial recognition systems and riot vans.
As darkness fell, thousands of anti-fascists remained; some scuffles with the armour clad Mossos not escalating beyond pushing and the occasional thrust of a baton.
Reclaiming the memorial, the floral provocations were thrown in the bins and hugs and jubilation spreading amongst the crowd.
Speaking on behalf of Sindicat d’estudiants and Esquerra Revolucionaria, activist Guillermo announced: ‘Today we mobilised to demonstrate to Aliança Catalana that their politics of hate is not welcome here, and we have succeeded in that with a show of force from many groups.
‘We know that we are not in a bubble here, despite a long history of fighting fascism.
‘The rise of the far right across Europe is something that has to be stopped.’
Activist Aida stated: ‘The current situation in Ceuta, which we believe is a direct manipulation by the west in collaboration with Israel, is being utilised by the far right to drum up support for their anti-Muslim politics of division.
‘It is an attempt to destroy the government of Pedro Sanchez for his anti-war and anti-genocide stance.’