After 9am police have started to attack polling stations in Catalan referendum. At that time over half a million people were guarding them, some had been there from 5am (see earlier posts) and some had spent since Friday evening to make sure the Independence referendum would go ahead.
Police charges have been brutal, throwing people down the stairs at IES Pau Claris in Barcelona (see https://twitter.com/marxistJorge/status/914472082435710976), charging against men, women, ch...ildren and the elderly.
In some places hundreds have pushed the police back, like at Escola Nostra Llar, in Sabadell see --> https://twitter.com/marxistJorge/status/914471145658822656
Catalan police Mossos d'Esquadra had arrived at polling stations around 6am to comply with the order to seal them off. Faced with hundreds defending them, they have limited themselves to make a record and leave. In some cases they asked "who's in charge?" to the crowd's reply "we are all in charge".
Later the Mossos have also participated in the seizing of ballot boxes in some instances, but mostly have kept away in the faced of hundreds defending polling stations. There has also been tension between Mossos and Civil Guard in at least one instance
https://twitter.com/marxistJorge/status/914473009351716865
In Sant Carles de la Ràpita, in the Ebro Delta, por 14,000, police charged this morning against hundreds outside the local polling station, leaving 45 injured. The enraged people chased the police out of the town throwing stones (video below).
These incidents however only cover a small fraction of the over 2000 polling stations in Catalonia. All members of the Catalan government have been able to vote, as has Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
Repression will surely continue throughout the day and the Spanish state will attempt to prevent the count from taking place, even by shutting down internet and data communications. This morning they also seized a call centre which had been organised for the vote count.
Whatever happens now, the images of police brutally attacking peaceful citizens attempting to vote and seizing ballot boxes will be marked in the consciousness of the Catalan people for a long time, and will also repel a large number of Spaniards outside Catalonia, though many will also be taken in by the reactionary Spanish nationalist propaganda of the government.
Fascist demonstrators have roamed the streets freely in Barcelona and other cities in Spain, unimpeded by the police and joined in by prominent PP politicians.
United Left and Podemos have denounced the repression. They should go from words into action and call for demonstrations in all cities tonight.
Even the PSOE, which has backed the government clamp down on the referendum full square are not embarrassed at the brutality of the repression.
One person has received the impact of a rubber bullet in her eye and is in the operation room in hospital. An elderly person has fallen during the police charges and has suffered a heart attack and is in critical condition.
On October 3rd there is a general strike called in Catalonia, it might already start tomorrow.
The day is not over yet. And the people of Catalonia are angry, very angry. They have also learnt a few lessons. The demand for a Catalan Republic will not diminish. On the contrary it would have been strengthened many times over. It is clear now that this is an aim which can only be achieved by revolutionary means, through the mass organisation and mobilisation of working people.
