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Activists have squirted purple paint on the facade of the Palau Episcopal in Barcelona this 8th March, International Women's Day, to protest against the Catholic church's positions on abortion and women's reproductive rights - ahead of the feminist demonstration later this Friday afternoon. The activists are from the Futuro Vegetal group, known for its high-impact actions involving works of art and cultural heritage.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, the ecological group left a trail of purple paint across the facade of the official residence of the archbishop of Barcelona, Joan Josep Omella, while displaying a banner with the phrase "The domination of women and that of nature have the same cause: the patriarchy. For an ecofeminist planet." Thus, they criticized Omella's positions regarding sexual and reproductive health, the voluntary termination of pregnancy and the trans law. They also wanted to bring to attention that Omella refused to appear before the pederasty investigation committee in the Catalan Parliament. Media such as La Directa have shared images of the protest action at the Episcopal Palace:

In a post on X, Futuro Vegetal explained that they acted "for all of the women, trans people and children affected by the oppression perpetuated by men like the archbishop of Barcelona, Joan Josep Omella". "A man who claims to defend life while taking a stand against the laws that have made us progress in fundamental rights," they added, referring to the cardinal. They also pointed out that "Omella declared that these laws were an attempt tro take lives when the reform of the voluntary termination of pregnancy law was approved, but, on the other hand, he refuses to appear before the commission of inquiry against pederasty created by Parliament".

The activists went on to day that the archbishop is "the same man who says that the trans law has been too fast and that it has terrible consequences for the development of young people 'because they still don't have things very clear' ". "Let's put a face on those people who cover up sexual violence against children with impunity, those who decide on the bodies of pregnant women and those who do not defend the rights of LGBTI+ people", they replied.

To finish, they recalled that "there is a connection between the exploitation and degradation of nature and the subordination and oppression of marginalized groups such as women, the ecofeminist movement has been denouncing this since the 70s". "We must replace a culture of domination and extractivism with a coherent relationship with nature. We are the ones who decide on our bodies!", they concluded.

As explained by La Directa, two private security agents intervened and called on both the Guàrdia Urbana and Mossos police, who identified and threatened to fine the three activists of Futuro Vegetal and the journalist from the media that covered the action.