To mark the second anniversary of the referendum on the independence of Catalonia, declared unconstitutional by Madrid, thousands of supporters of secession marched today in Barcelona. Similar demonstrations were held in other cities of the Catalan region, where among the 7.5 million inhabitants, separatist sentiment is increasing. The Barcelona procession left the center and stopped in some of the schools that two years ago were assaulted by the riot police when they had been turned into polling stations for the then illegal vote. The Barcelona police have estimated 18,000 participants. Many carried pro-independence flags and shouted "We have not forgotten, we have not forgiven!" in reference to the clashes between voters and the police during the 2017 referendum, when tens of thousands of people participated in the vote considered legal by the Puigdemont government and the Rajoy government sent the police to block the rallies.
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