"Democracy, freedom, and civilization. Their meaning matters more than ever as we are confronted with the high art of lying and the twisting of words' meanings, which is part of the nature of fascism". This is one of the first ideas Rob Riemen raises in his indispensable book, To Fight Against This Age. And this is where we find Catalonia and our democratic fight. We don't just have to fight an ancient, monarchic and authoritarian conception of the res publica, we also have to fight lies, machinations and, most dangerous of all, the twisting of words. We already know language is power and whoever controls it or is able to manipulate it is able to change your perception of reality.
These last few months (and I would dare say these last few weeks), we've seen a notable increase in attacks, threats and fascist violence on our doorstep. A few groups of aggressive individuals have tried to intimidate activists supporting the release of the political prisoners and the return of the exiles. In some cases, they've gone as far as physically assaulting people hanging up loops or setting up yellow crosses in the streets and squares of the country. I've had the opportunity for first hand knowledge of some of these cases and I want to pass on all support and solidarity to all those attacked. This violence, like all violence, has to end. And it demands firm condemnation, no ifs or buts, from everyone. There cannot be anyone who wants to be considered a democrat who qualifies, who at all justifies or who remains quiet given these outbreaks of fascism in our towns and cities.
There cannot be anyone who wants to be considered a democrat who qualifies, who at all justifies or who remains quiet given these outbreaks of fascism in our towns and cities
The Catalan police has to do their job. We shouldn't put them in the heart of the public debate. It's not advisable, nor is it the intelligent strategy if we really want them to act effectively. But certainly, their response to these outbreaks has to include preventive measures, early detection and active measures when attacks happen. It absolutely has to be avoided that these masked, violent and intolerant individuals can enjoy any feeling of impunity. And for that reason, what's needed above all is for the justice system to act and take up this question as a top priority.
A quarantine line has to be set up around the fascist attitudes that have recently awoken
The professional, efficient and conclusive work of the police and the justice system has to be accompanied by a democratic wall from the country's political and discursive spheres. And that includes the media, thought leaders and everyone who has a role in the public arena. A quarantine line has to be set up around the fascist attitudes that have recently awoken. We know there have always been fascist elements in society and that there have been cases of attacks and threats for many years. It's clear that the Spanish state hasn't cleaned up this fascist ooze and that the transition to democracy after Franco's dictatorship did not make a clean cut with the past.
We cannot tolerate it. We shouldn't let the serpent's egg gestate. Experience and history have given us clear enough clues about the risk of allowing such behaviour and enduring them as one-off, normal events, or as small, insignificant exceptions. I ask all the Catalan and Spanish political parties to vigorously condemn the violence of these fascist groups against independence supporters. For them unequivocally to condemn them and commit to fighting fascism. You don't have to be a supporter of Catalan independence to act decisively against violent people. For the sake of all democratic ideas and project, we cannot let these attitudes make progress.
The political fight has to be solidly committed against fascism. We cannot accept patronising speeches, shades of grey nor justifications of these violent behaviours
Nobody, neither here nor abroad, has any doubts about the completely peaceful nature of the independence movement which has shown itself in the streets immaculately and with exemplary civility over these last few years. The political fight has to be solidly committed against fascism. We cannot accept patronising speeches, shades of grey nor justifications (even indirectly) of these violent behaviours we've seen on the streets of Catalonia.
It's our duty and our commitment, thanks to the great lessons history teaches us, to fight fascism at the roots. In Catalonia and everywhere. And for that reason we also appreciate and encourage those fighting for democracy and freedom from all the peoples of the Spanish state to work together to combat this historical scourge which never dies completely.
The Catalan government will do everything possible to curb this fascism and make it disappear from our streets. The Catalan police has to act with maximum efficiency against these groups
The Catalan government will do everything possible to curb this fascism and make it disappear from our streets. The Catalan police has to act with maximum efficiency against these groups. Moreover, an independent anti-fascist observatory which documents the attacks and the groups has to be set up. We demand politicians of all parties to join the democratic barricade which always unequivocally fights fascism. And finally, I ask everyone, I ask the public, to show maximum responsibility and that, in risky situations, to contact the police so that it is the professionals who take action. As in so many other matters, against fascism we have to be a single people.
*Quim Torra i Pla, 131st president of Catalonia