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The Catalan National Assembly (ANC) has announced more than 50,000 people have already signed up for the demonstration they have organised for this year's Diada, the Catalan national day on 11th September. They say they have also filled more than 450 coaches and sold more than 170,000 t-shirts, with almost three weeks left to the day.

The ANC made the announcement on Twitter, including a video to encourage yet more people to take part. The video explains that they intend to again fill one of Barcelona's great streets, this year Diagonal, to send a great, loud wave to "defend the mandate" of last year's independence referendum.

The organisation hopes to repeat the success of last year's 11th September rally, when more than a million people filled Barcelona's carrer Aragó and passeig de Gràcia ahead of the 1st October referendum under the slogan "we will vote".