Group show solidarity for Catalunya and Kurdistan

In the rain of yesterday a group came together in Wrexham town centre in a show of solidarity for Catalunya and Kurdistan.

The event was one of several around the UK, with similar ‘Stand up for Catalonia’ gatherings taking place in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, and London.

Protest have been taking place in Barcelona after leaders of grassroots pro-secession organisations, ANC and Omnium, were jailed last week for up to 13 years alongside others over a failed bid for independence in 2017.

The rally also heard criticism of President Donald Trump, who removed of US troops from Syria earlier this month, resulting in attacks from Turkey, and display their solidarity with the Kurdistan people as a whole, and Syrian Kurdish people resulting from the recent withdrawal.

Marc Jones said, “We’re here in solidarity with both Catalans and the Kurdish people. So it’s a Catalan, Kurdish, Cymru solidarity meeting. We’ve decided to combine the two because the same struggles are happening in both countries. These are fights for democracy, for self determination, but also against fascism.”

Carrie Harper said, “It is so important to show solidarity to other nations, to nations that have been oppressed around the world and particularly so when those nations are on your own doorstep.

“It’s quite unbelievable but in 2019, we got political prisoners in Europe. Democratically seeking self determination, seeking independence, in the eyes of Spain at least is a criminal offense. It’s one of those cost nine Catalan leaders their freedom. Earlier this month nine Catalan politicians activists were given a jail sentences of between nine and 13 years each simply for seeking democratic expression for their people, and for declared independence for the nation following a referendum.

“Spain’s reaction to that politically and through the judicial system has been an act of vengeance by the Spanish state the echoes back to Franco. Now the acts of violence inflicted on the people of Catalonia by the Spanish police on ordinary people who’ve been protesting have been sickening. I’ve seen videos on my news feed of young women being thrown to the ground of old men being beaten up of people being struck indiscriminately by the police for protesting. This thuggish and violent behavior is disgusting, and it should be condemned by everybody who believes in democracy.

“I will say this, you can put people behind bars, but you cannot imprison the desire for freedom and the world is watching.”