Pro-unionist demonstration in Barcelona

(29 Oct 2017) Tens of thousands of people who want Catalonia to remain part of Spain rallied in downtown Barcelona on Sunday, two days after a separatist majority in Catalonia's Parliament voted for the wealthy region to secede. Organisers say the goal of the rally is to defend Spain's unity and reject "an unprecedented attack in the history of democracy." Leaders of rival pro-union parties from the ruling conservative Popular Party, the pro-business Ciudadanos and the centre-left socialists have joined together under the slogan "We are all Catalonia. Common sense for coexistence!" Grassroots group Societat Civil Catalan called for those who oppose Catalonia from breaking away to march at noon Sunday (1100 GMT). Demonstrators, many waving Spanish, Catalan and European Union flags, flooded a central boulevard. The mood was festive and jubilant, with no incidents reported. Three weeks ago, the same group organised a mass rally that brought hundreds of thousands onto Barcelona's streets. That was by far the largest pro-union show of force in Catalonia in recent years, in contrast to huge rallies by separatists. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...