Demonstrators protest jailing of pro-independence leaders

(19 Oct 2017) Scores of demonstrators gathered in front of the Spanish delegation in Barcelona to protest against the jailing of the leaders of two pro-independence groups on Thursday. Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the heads of grassroots organizations Catalan National Assembly and Omnium Cultural, are being investigated on possible sedition charges for organizing demonstrations before the region's disputed secession vote. Their jailing sparked an immediate outcry in Barcelona, Catalonia's capital. People banged on pots and pans, honked car horns and clapped in the streets. The judge's order came nearly 12 hours after a Monday morning deadline passed without the president of Catalonia clarifying whether he has declared independence from Spain. The judge ordered Sanchez and Cuixart jailed while their roles in organizing Sept. 20-21 demonstrations in Barcelona are investigated. Spanish police arrested several Catalan officials and raided offices on those two days to prevent an independence referendum from taking place on Oct. 1. In Monday's court ruling, the Spanish National Court judge said Sanchez and Cuixart led the demonstrations, ignored some police recommendations for maintaining safety, and helped form a cordon to keep Spanish police from carrying out their duties, among other actions. If indicted, tried and convicted of sedition, they could face prison terms of up to 15 years. 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...