In pictures: Tractor rally backs Catalan independence
© Matthias Oesterle/ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock
Hundreds of farmers descended on Barcelona in their tractors to back Catalonia’s bid for independence.
About 700 tractors were said to have taken part in the parade on Friday (29 September), according to local reports.
Catalonia is a wealthy region in north-eastern Spain and has its own language and culture, but under the Spanish constitution it is not recognised as a separate nation.
An unauthorised referendum asking if Catalonia should become an independent state was held on 1 October, amid widespread protests and violence as police attempted to prevent voters from reaching polling stations.
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Many of the farmers emblazoned their tractors with Catalonia flags – bearing the one star of Catalan independence – and they honked their horns as they entered the famous city.
Thronging crowds greeted the procession, dubbed a “Tractorada”, to huge cheers as the vehicles filed past famous buildings, such as the Sagrada Familia church.
Catalonia Tractor Independence Procession pic.twitter.com/c7SvEotvnN
— Indyref 2023 Debate (@ScotIndyDebate) September 23, 2017
Tractor processions continued over the weekend and into Monday (2 October) in Barcelona amid reports that hundreds were injured in violent clashes between firefighters and police and the public.
Farmers taking the streets with tractors. Firemen on hand to use hoses on cops if they attack. Workers resisting together. #Catalonia pic.twitter.com/GmWwbsamqp
— Bristol IWW 🌍🛠️ (@BristolIWW) October 1, 2017
Farmers in Catalonia have blocked the entrances to the harbour to stop more riot police getting off the ships pic.twitter.com/uPDOT5Xpyz
— P O'Neill (@Big_Jim__Larkin) October 1, 2017
The peaceful Farmers demo in Catalonia on Friday 1000's of tractors came in2 town was such a buzz then came today very sad day for democracy pic.twitter.com/eO9kDkOuZI
— Pierre (@RepublicofB30) October 1, 2017
The Catalan government said it had earned the right to split after preliminary results showed that 90% of Catalonians voted in favour of independence in Sunday’s (1 October) referendum.
But the Spanish government said the vote was unconstitutional. In a televised address, Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, said the vote “did not happen”.