Catalan independence supporters have been facing heavy border checks - not to enter another country, but to leave their own. This was the situation on Sunday morning as some pro-independence protesters began their long journeys to Strasbourg, for this Tuesday's rally outside the European Parliament to protest against the veto on elected MEPs Oriol Junqueras, Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comín. Several of those travelling complained on Twitter that they were searched thoroughly and roughly by Spanish police patrolling the border crossing to France at La Jonquera. When the police officers saw pro-independence estelada flags, they slammed vehicle occupants "against the wall like criminals", searched vehicles from top to bottom, also employing sniffer dogs.
Camí d Estrasburg. Frontera Jonquera, control poli nacional, veuen estelada i ens paren. Escorcollats contra paret com delinqüents, cotxe escorcollat de dalt a baix, amb gos inclòs. Aparten estelada de mala manera, males cares ells i nosaltres més. Identificació DNI..@assemblea
— Xavier Miralles 🎗 (@fxaviermiralles) 30 de junio de 2019
Translation:
"En route to Strasbourg. La Jonquera border crossing, Spanish national police check, they see the 'estelada' flag and stop us. Searched against the wall like criminals. Car searched from top to bottom, with a detection dog too. They move the estelada out of their way roughly, give us nasty looks and we give them some too. Check of ID cards." — Xavier Miralles
Ens han parat la Policia Nacional , a la Jonquera , escorcollant-nos de males maneres ( gossos inclosos ) al veure l'estelada i dir q anàvem a Estrasburg @assemblea @omnium @QuimTorraiPla @KRLS @govern
— jordi sanchez (@jorsanmrq) 30 de junio de 2019
"Spanish National Police have stopped us at La Jonquera, searching us roughly (sniffer dogs included) after seeing the estelada flag and saying we were going to Strasbourg."— jordi sanchez (@jorsanmrq)
Les 8 del matí i ja estan marcant paquet a la Junquera parant a tothom🙄 Que no els passi res als qui surten demà cap a Strasbourg.
— Mercè RepubliCat \\*// (@MATPIN02) 30 de junio de 2019
"8am and they're already showing how big their dicks are at La Jonquera, stopping everyone. Let's hope those who leave tomorrow for Strasbourg don't have problems."—Mercè RepubliCat \\*// (@MATPIN02)