BARCELONA, Spain — Hundreds of thousands of Catalan separatists let out a collective shout as they marched along a main artery in Barcelona on Tuesday, marking the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

With the official slogan "Let's Make the Catalan Republic" printed on pink T-shirts and signs, protesters went silent at 5.14 p.m., which on a 24-hour clock is 1714 — the year when Barcelona fell in the Spanish War of Succession.

A loud cheer and cries of "independence" and "freedom" followed, sweeping along a six-kilometer (3.7-mile) -long stretch of the city's Diagonal avenue. In a giant symbolic wall, protesters toppled the image of a king of spades playing card, in an apparent rejection of the Spanish monarchy.

Barcelona's local police estimated around 1 million protesters took part. Grassroots organizers said that 470,000 people had signed up online for the rally, with many more expected to join in.

The march on the traditional Sept. 11 holiday in Catalonia called "la Diada" has drawn similarly huge crowds of secession supporters in recent past years.

This year's demonstration comes nearly one year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either in prison awaiting trial or have fled the country.

Quim Torra, Catalonia's regional president, said Tuesday that while maintaining his pledge to see through the breakaway bid, his immediate focus is on putting pressure on the courts ahead of the trials of the separatist movement's jailed leaders.

Torra's goal is to stoke public showings of strength on Oct. 1, the anniversary of the referendum that was met by a police crackdown, the failed declaration of independence last Oct. 27, and the imminent start of the trials.

"In the coming weeks we are going to put all out efforts into denouncing" the situation of the jailed separatists, Torra said. "If the prisoners are not absolved, my government and the Catalan Parliament will take necessary action."

Some within the secessionist movement want Torra's government to immediately try again to unilaterally break with Spain.

"We have come here today to demand once again freedom for Catalonia," said 57-year-old Lourdes Casajus, who came from her home in Vic, a town in the Catalan heartland, to join the separatist rally. "Last Oct. 1, we voted in a referendum and the majority for independence wasn't respected. This Sept. 11 we demand that all the politicians, both from there and ours here, respect the people's will."

Torra, who came to power after secessionist parties won a regional election, has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and is planning a second meeting, in what is considered a thawing of relations between Madrid and Barcelona. Torra wants Spain's new center-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum, while Sanchez will only offer a vote on increasing northeastern Catalonia's already considerable degree of self-rule.

Catalonia's separatist political parties, which hold seats in Spain's Parliament, have failed to garner support to amend the Spanish Constitution to allow a vote on secession.

Sanchez issued an appeal to "start a dialogue between Catalans" on Tuesday.

Polls and official election results indicate that roughly half of Catalonia's 7.5 million residents are against severing century-old ties with the rest of Spain. Catalans have family in other parts of Spain, share in its cultural traditions and speak Spanish along with Catalan.

Non-separatists often say they no longer feel welcome at "la Diada," which they say has ceased to be a celebration of Catalan identity and become a political rally.

"I have attended almost all of Catalonia Day celebrations," 51-year-old Victor Pozanco said. "But five years ago I stopped attending. I don't want to be counted as another separatist simply by attending the rally. Because I am not one of them, but I am Catalan."

There are also those who feel that the tensions that have arisen because of the secession question are taking an ugly toll on families and friendships.

"I am in the middle," 53-year-old cafe owner Nelida Adell said. "I have more affinities with the separatists but I also have family ties in the rest of Spain. So I don't want a radical break. I would like tensions to decrease. I fear things could get out of hand." </s> Huge rally in Barcelona to demand jailed separatists go free

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Catalan separatists rallied in downtown Barcelona on Sunday to demand the release of high-profile secessionist leaders being held in pre-trial detention.

Protesters waved Catalan separatist flags behind a huge banner that read "for rights and liberties, for democracy and unity, we want them back home!"

The demonstration was organized by two pro-independence grassroots groups, the National Catalan Assembly and Omnium, whose presidents are among the nine separatists in prison awaiting trial for their roles in last year's failed breakaway bid by the northeastern Spanish region.

The regional chapters of Spain's two leading labor unions, along with other civil society groups, supported the protest despite the complaints from some members who don't want secession for Catalonia. Barcelona police said 315,000 people participated in the protest.

"The majority of Catalans, regardless of their political position, agree that pre-trial jail is not justified," said regional UGT union leader Camil Ros. "What we as labor unions are asking for now is dialogue."

The secession movement in the wealthy region has plunged Spain into its deepest institutional crisis in decades.

Separatist lawmakers defied court orders and held an ad-hoc referendum on independence in October. Their subsequent declaration of independence for the region led to a crackdown by Spanish authorities acting to defend the Spanish Constitution, which declares the nation "indivisible."

Pro-independence parties retained a slim majority in Catalonia's parliament after an election in December, but courts have blocked their attempts to elect as regional chief any lawmaker who is either behind bars or has fled the country.

The latest opinion poll published by the Catalan government in February said that support for independence had decreased to 40 percent from near 49 percent in October. The poll surveyed 1,200 people and had a margin of error of 2.8 percent. </s> Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans have rallied in Barcelona to show their support for an independent nation that would break away from Spain, leaving it without its powerful and prosperous northeastern region.

Barcelona police estimated on their Twitter account that about 540,000 people attended Saturday’s demonstration in support of a legally binding referendum on secession.

Spain argues that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union and left out from using the euro currency.

Catalan National Day has long been used to mobilize the masses in support of secession from Spain, which has said any referendum on the issue would be unconstitutional. The economically powerful Catalonia accounts for 18 percent of Spain’s economic output. </s> Catalan separatists have taken to the streets of Barcelona in the first of a series of mass mobilisations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

Catalan separatists have taken to the streets of Barcelona in the first of a series of mass mobilisations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

The traditional September 11 march marking the Diada, when the Catalan capital fell during the Spanish War of Succession in 1714, has drawn hundreds of thousands of secession supporters in recent years.

It comes nearly a year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition.

Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain’s constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Quim Torra, the Catalan regional president, said that while maintaining his pledge to see through the breakaway bid, his immediate focus was on putting pressure on the courts ahead of the trials of the movement’s jailed leaders.

His goal is to whip up support for public showings of strength on October 1, the anniversary of the referendum that was met by a police crackdown, the failed declaration of independence on October 27, and the imminent start of the trials.

“In the coming weeks we are going to put all our efforts into denouncing” the situation of the jailed separatists, Mr Torra said.

“If the prisoners are not absolved, my government and the Catalan parliament will take necessary action.”

He said he would not go as far as throwing open the cells of the secessionists, who are being held in Catalan prisons run by his administration.

Some within the secessionist movement want Mr Torra’s government to immediately try again to unilaterally break with Spain.

“We have come here today to demand once again freedom for Catalonia,” said 57-year-old Lourdes Casajus, who came from her home in the Catalan heartland to join the separatist rally.

“Last October 1 we voted in a referendum and the majority for independence wasn’t respected. This September 11 we demand that all the politicians, both from there and ours here, respect the people’s will.”

Mr Torra, who rose to power after secessionist parties won a regional election, has met Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez and is planning a second meeting, in what is considered a thawing of relations between Madrid and Barcelona.

He wants Spain’s new centre-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum, while Mr Sanchez will only offer a vote on increasing Catalonia’s already considerable degree of self-rule.

Polls and official election results indicate that roughly half of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents are against severing century-old ties with the rest of Spain. </s> BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Separatist authorities are calling for people to take to the streets of Barcelona to mark the Day of Catalonia, in the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain.

The traditional Sept. 11 march marking the "Diada," when the Catalan capital fell to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers Tuesday.

It comes nearly one year after a banned referendum on secession led to an ineffective independence declaration. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Independence demonstrators, some of them holding flares, march during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional method on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Catalan President Quim Torra, who came to power after secessionists won a regional election, wants the new center-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum.

Demonstrators, some of them holding flares, march carrying "esteladas" or independence flags during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional march on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Members of an ultra-right-wing movement called 'Catalan Identitarian Movement' shout slogans during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional march on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathisers. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

Demonstrators, some of them holding flares, march carrying "esteladas" or independence flags during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional march on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Members of a ultra-right-wing movement called 'Catalan Identitarian Movement' walk guarded by the police during celebrations of the Catalonia's regional holiday known as "La Diada" in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios) </s> 1 million rally in Barcelona for independence from Spain

A massive crowd around 1-million strong surged into the streets of Barcelona Monday to mark Catalonia’s national day – the “Diada” – and show support for an independence referendum that Spain’s central government says is illegal.

Catalonia’s pro-independence government plans to hold the referendum on Oct. 1 in defiance of Spain, the BBC reported. Catalonia has passed a law to secede from Spain if the vote is Yes.

Opinion polls suggest the vote, if it takes place, will be very close, the BBC reported. – READ MORE </s> BARCELONA, Spain — Separatist authorities are calling for people to take to the streets of Barcelona to mark the Day of Catalonia, in the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain.

The traditional Sept. 11 march marking the “Diada,” when the Catalan capital fell to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers Tuesday.

It comes nearly one year after a banned referendum on secession led to an ineffective independence declaration. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain’s constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Catalan President Quim Torra, who came to power after secessionists won a regional election, wants the new centre-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum. </s> Thousands of Catalan separatists took to the streets of the Spanish capital Saturday to denounce the prosecution of 12 of their leaders, on trial for their part in the failed 2017 independence bid.

Police estimated that some 18,000 people marched through the city centre, the first such demonstration by Catalan separatists in Madrid since 2012.

Many of the protesters carried the red-and-yellow striped flag of Catalonia, and a banner at the front of the march read: “Self-determination is not a crime”.

The separatists denounce the court case mounted against the regional politicians as a politically motivated show trial.

Nine of the 12 on trial at Madrid’s Supreme Court face up to 25 years in jail on charges of rebellion and other offences for pushing a secession bid referendum in October 2017 in defiance of a court ban, and for a brief declaration of independence.

The moves sparked Spain’s deepest political crisis since the transition to democracy in the 1970s after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. </s> BARCELONA, Spain — Catalan separatist took to the streets of Barcelona on Tuesday in the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

The traditional Sept. 11 march marking the ‘Diada,’ when the Catalan capital fell during the Spanish War of Succession in 1714, has drawn hundreds of thousands of secession supporters in recent years.

It comes nearly one year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain’s constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Quim Torra, the Catalan regional president, said Tuesday that while maintaining his pledge to see through the breakaway bid, his immediate focus was on putting pressure on the courts ahead of the trials of the separatist movement’s jailed leaders.

Torra’s goal is to rev up support for public showings of strength on Oct. 1, the anniversary of the referendum that was met by a police crackdown, the failed declaration of independence last Oct. 27, and the imminent start of the trials.

“In the coming weeks we are going to put all out efforts into denouncing” the situation of the jailed separatists, Torra said. “If the prisoners are not absolved, my government and the Catalan Parliament will take necessary action.”

Torra said that he would not go as far as throwing open the cells of the secessionists, who are being held in Catalan prisons run by his administration.

Some within the secessionist movement want Torra’s government to immediately try again to unilaterally break with Spain.

“We have come here today to demand once again freedom for Catalonia,” said 57-year-old Lourdes Casajus, who came from her home Vic, a town in the Catalan heartland, to join the separatist rally. “Last Oct. 1 we voted in a referendum and the majority for independence wasn’t respected. This Sept. 11 we demand that all the politicians, both from there and ours here, respect the people’s will.”

Torra, who came to power after secessionist parties won a regional election, has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and is planning a second meeting, in what is considered a thawing of relations between Madrid and Barcelona. Torra wants Spain’s new centre-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum, while Sanchez will only offer a vote on increasing northeastern Catalonia’s already considerable degree of self-rule.

Polls and official election results indicate that roughly half of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents are against severing century-old ties with the rest of Spain. Catalans have family in other parts of Spain, share in its cultural traditions and speak Spanish along with Catalan.

Those Catalans against secession decry what they consider the monopolization of the Diada, or ‘Catalonia Day,’ by separatists. Grassroots separatist groups in recent years have organized the massive rallies, including chartering buses to bring people into Barcelona from small towns.

Non-separatists often say they no longer feel welcome at the event, which they say has ceased to be a celebration of Catalan identity and become a political rally.

Ines Arrimadas, the regional leader of the pro-Spain Citizens party, criticized recent statements by Torra that the Diada was exclusively for those in favour of secession.

“Today we give voice to the millions of Catalans who will stay at home,” Arrimadas said. “We are standing up to say that union is stronger than disunion. Torra and those with him want to silence one half of Catalonia.”

There are also those who feel that the tensions that have arisen because of the secession question are taking an ugly toll on families and friendships.

“I am in the middle,” 53-year-old cafe owner Nelida Adell said. “I have more affinities with the separatists but I also have family ties in the rest of Spain. So I don’t want a radical break. I would like tensions to decrease. I fear things could get out of hand.”

Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.
A million Catalonia residents launch an "autumn of protests" on National Day of Catalonia to demand independence from Spain and release "high-profile" secessionists from jail.