Demonstrators called for Spain to remain united after the regional parliament declared independence yesterday.
Protesters carried the traditional red and yellow Rojigualda flag as they marched through the streets.
They held signs reading “no to a split” and “Puigdemont for prison”, showing their support for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government as it continues to oppose Catalan independence.
Mr Rajoy invoked Article 155 of the Spanish constitution yesterday, taking over Catalan institutions to impose direct rule this morning.
He has stripped Catalonia of its autonomy, closing its parliament, dismissing the government, and firing police chiefs and other public servants.
All of this is in the name of keeping the peace and respecting the rule of law. Spain’s government claims the Catalan independence referendum was illegal as lawmakers did not follow constitutional procedure to call the vote.
Opponents point out there was no possibility of ever getting a referendum if the full procedure had been followed as nationalists in the Spanish parliament are so entrenched in their belief that Spain is indivisible.
Many in Madrid support the government’s decision to take over Catalan institutions in the name of restoring the rule of law and ensuring Spain remains united.
The rally “for the unity of Spain and the constitution” counters mass separatists marches in Barcelona.
Pro-independence politicians urged their supporters to “fill the streets” yesterday as Spain was poised to take over.
Including now-former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who was removed by Spain this morning, they have encouraged “peaceful resistance” as Spanish authorities attempt to control the rogue region.
A leading expert on Catalonia has predicted violent clashes in the wake of the takeover.
Violence mirroring the brutality of the referendum is to be expected as peaceful protesters meet Spain’s civil guard and supporters await the arrest of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.
Dr Sally-Ann Kitts, senior lecturer in Hispanic and Catalan Studies at the University of Bristol, told Express.co.uk she would be “amazed” if there was no violence as tensions continue to escalate.
She said: “The civil guard and the national police never left Catalonia. They will be deployed and meet with large groups of Catalan people providing peaceful resistance.
“The images we saw on 1st October, people standing with their hands up in this sort of stand-off, and eventually the guards charged forward riot shields and batons – I really will be amazed if we don’t see more of that, sadly.
“For example if they go to arrest Puigdemont I imagine there will be a very large group of people outside the parliament who want to stop them from doing that. This sort of thing I think, tragically, is going to happen.”
Dr Kitts believes Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will continue to take a very hard line against separatists and could arrest multiple leaders within the Catalan government.
She added that Mr Rajoy and politicians in Madrid were unlikely to commence dialogue with Catalonia’s leaders as they had rejected several approaches already.