Girona maintains the original spirit of the Procés demonstrations

For the third consecutive year, Girona has been the setting for one of the decentralized demonstrations of September 11th and, once again, the event has brought together thousands of people. 15,000, according to the Assembly, and 11,000, according to the municipal police. More or less the same as last year. The march began at 5:14 PM at Plaça Catalunya, packed to the rafters, and slowly headed towards the La Copa esplanade, where speeches and musical performances took place and a giant screen connected with Barcelona. The entire day unfolded in a festive atmosphere, with families, retirees, and also a great many young people who came from all over the region. An essentially citizen-led mobilization, from civil society, without partisan proclamations, symbols of political parties, or media figures hogging the spotlight.The spirit (although less crowded) recalled that of the first years of the Procés demonstrations, before the most tense and convulsive moments. Shouts of "independence", the singing of Els Segadors, proclamations of "the streets will be ours" and "we want, we want independence". Also human towers (castellers), brass bands and songs by Lluís Llach, Txarango and l’Elèctrica Dharma. A kind of happy déjà-vu and a feeling of national celebration. Neither reproaches to politicians nor tension.There has also been no trace of the tensions with the pro-independence far-right of Aliança Catalana, which did mark the Diada in the capital. There was only a brief moment of tension when a group of teenagers leading the demonstration, wearing football shirts, with estelada flags on their backs and painted cheeks, began to shout "Sílvia Orriols is the solution". They did so timidly and quickly gave up, but the chant caused a citizen passing by, outside the demonstration, to confront them and, then, an adult from the demonstration wanted to retaliate. The situation, however, did not escalate: they were separated and the rest of the young people there responded with anti-fascist slogans.Without the prominence of politicians or well-known faces

The festive and civic tone of the demonstration continued on the Copa stage. In fact, the speeches were delivered by anonymous people: two pro-independence activists, a veteran, and a young woman, in line with the "present and future" slogan of the rally. "Catalonia is experiencing a moment of unrest. Strained public services, healthcare with unacceptable waiting lists, education without resources, trains that leave us stranded, and impossible housing prices, neglected farmers, and precarious working conditions. These are not isolated problems; they are part of the same reality, a Catalonia that does not have all the resources or all the decision-making capacity to govern itself," they said.The day ended with the concert by Akoblats, a group performing lively covers of Catalan songs, a drinks bar, and food stalls. The younger audience stayed until the end and had a great time.