Spain's Debt Crisis Is Fueling Catalan Independence

1.5 Million Take To Streets Of Barcelona In Support Of Independence -- The Telegraph

As many as 1.5 million took to the streets of Barcelona on Tuesday in an unprecedented show of mass support for autonomy from Madrid, blaming Spain's economic crisis for dragging their wealthy region down.

Surging unemployment and financial disarray have stoked a fever of separatism in Catalonia, a comparatively prosperous part of Spain whose leaders say their wealth is being sucked dry by the central government.

Crowds waved red and yellow striped Catalan flags – one of the oldest still in use in Europe – and sang the Catalan anthem on a national day marking the conquest of Catalonia by Spain's King Philip V in 1714 after a 13 month siege of Barcelona.

The regional government said the crowd was 600,000 strong. Local police gave figures as high as 1.5 million.

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More News On Tuesday's Demonstration In Support For Catalan Independence

Huge turnout for Catalan independence rally -- BBC
Spain's crisis fuels Catalan independence fervour -- Reuters
Throngs push Catalan independence amid Spain's economic crisis -- CNN
Catalan independence rally brings Barcelona to a standstill -- The Guardian
Spain: Marchers Demand Independence for Catalonia, as Budget Cuts Bolster Separatism -- New York Times
Catalans rally for independence from Spain -- Al Jazeera
Huge turnout for Catalan independence rally -- BBC
Spain’s Catalonia region – speeding toward separation? -- Euronews
Barcelona Warns Madrid: Pay Up, or Catalonia Leaves Spain -- Lisa Abend, Time
In pictures: Catalonia rally attracts 1.5 million people -- BBC