More than 10,000 people have taken part in a march in Perpinyà in support of the Catalan Countries - the Mediterranean lands where the Catalan language is spoken and the culture has strong roots. The city of Perpinyà, politically part of France, but the capital of the Rossellò county which historically constituted the northern part of Catalonia, this Saturday held a celebration to coincide with its own Diada or national day. Under the slogan "Let's fill Perpinyà", huge numbers of Catalans from all over Catalan territory took part to join the call for the independence of the Catalan Countries.
During the rally, held in the city's Plaça Catalunya, supporters called for the release of the Catalan political prisoners as well as for unity across the Catalan territories - which also include the Valencian Country and the Balearic Islands, as well as parts of Sardinia (the city of L'Alguer) and Aragon (La Franja).
Parliaments in the Castillet pic.twitter.com/Org9ZHgvWI
— We rise to Perpignan (@PugemP) 10 of November 2018
@KRLS a souvenir|remembrance MHP of #Perpinyà
— Ceka K Uebel (@CekaKuebel) 10 of November 2018
Catalan republic now. pic.twitter.com/oFGjBQWEOv
Si viese esto el pobre Miguel, le cogía un ataque #Gavà #Perpinyà #PugemAPerpinyà pic.twitter.com/tmYpwl5oMU
— Pedro J. S. (@Pjsango) 10 of November 2018
Perpignan is today a clamor|claim of freedom! pic.twitter.com/dXOm1Q8pKh
— Jaume Oliva (@jaumeoliva_) 10 of November 2018
#Perpinyà which women!
— Ceka K Uebel (@CekaKuebel) 10 of November 2018
Here we will win. He|She|It forces and ahead. pic.twitter.com/F8D0W2V6nR
The vice president of the Catalan cultural group Òmnium, Marcel Mauri, and the president of the Catalan National Assembly, Elisenda Paluzie, read letters that imprisoned leaders of the two groups, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, had sent from Lledoners jail. Both leaders spoke of their gratitude for the work that many Northern Catalans carried out to make possible the independence referendum on 1st October 2017. "The cause of freedom has brought us even closer together. With your immense generosity we carried out, on 1st October, the most beautiful exercise in collective sovereignty that has been experienced in Europe in recent years", wrote Cuixart.
@jcuixart: "With the language|tongue as an element of social cohesion. In|To the Alguer, in|to the País Valencià, in|to the Catalunya Nord, in|to the Islands and in|to the Border: in each place of the country we make" pic.twitter.com/uDO6BOO2Vk "from the Catalan meeting point with all persons who arrive searching a worthier present"
— Cultural Òmnium (@omnium) 10 of November 2018
Translation:
"Jordi Cuixart: With the [Catalan] language as element of social cohesion. In Alguer [Sardinia], the Valencian Country, Northern Catalonia, the [Balearic] Islands, and the Franja [Aragon]: in every part of the country we make Catalan our point of encounter with everyone who arrives looking for a more dignified life." — Òmnium Cultural
Northern Catalonia celebrates its Diada or national day every 7th November to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, under which Spain gave Rosselló county to France as part of the agreement to end the Thirty Years' War.