Catalan Way Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Catalan Way
Catalan Way (section 235) in Via Augusta street, Tarragona
Date	11 September 2013
Location	Catalonia
Goals	Independence of Catalonia
Methods	Protest march, street protest

The Catalan Way (Catalan: Via Catalana) was a very long human chain. It stretched for about 400 kilometers (250 miles). People formed the chain to show their support for Catalan independence from Spain.

The event was organized by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC). Many other groups also helped. It happened in Catalonia on 11 September 2013. This date is the National Day of Catalonia, called Diada. About 1.6 million people joined the chain. It followed an old Roman road called the Via Augusta. The chain went from Le Perthus near France to Alcanar in Spain. The organizers said it was a symbol of unity for the Catalan people. They wanted to achieve their own country.

Plans for the Catalan Way were first shared in June 2013. The idea came from the 1989 Baltic Way. That was a similar human chain in the Baltic states. Many people signed up to join the Catalan Way. Organizers used about 1,500 buses. They also had 30,000 volunteers to help.

Another similar event, the Catalan Way 2014, happened the next year.

What inspired the Catalan Way?
Getting ready for the Catalan Way
- How people signed up
Where did the chain go?
What happened after the Catalan Way?
Later events
Images for kids
See also

What inspired the Catalan Way?

The estelada (Catalan pro-independence flag) at a 2012 protest

The Catalan Way was inspired by the Baltic Way of 1989. In that event, people in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed a human chain. They wanted their countries to be independent from the Soviet Union. All three countries became independent soon after. The Baltic Way showed that people could peacefully ask for self-determination.

Catalonia had other large protests before the Catalan Way.

In 2010, a big protest happened in Barcelona. People were unhappy about limits on Catalonia's self-rule within Spain. Over a million people joined this protest.
Between 2009 and 2011, many towns in Catalonia held local votes on independence. Most people voted "yes."
In 2012, another huge protest took place. It was organized by the Catalan National Assembly. People wanted Catalonia to become a new country in Europe. About 1.5 million people took part.

Getting ready for the Catalan Way

How people signed up

The Catalan Way was announced in June 2013. Two people who helped organize the Baltic Way were there.

The National Catalan Assembly (ANC) started online sign-ups in July. Over 22,000 people registered in the first day. In the first week, more than 78,000 people signed up. Three weeks before the event, over 350,000 people had registered. Even less populated areas filled up with participants.

During the summer, some cities held practice runs. This helped people understand how the chain would work.

Where did the chain go?

The human chain route in Catalonia

In Catalonia

Start of section 650, in Pontós

The human chain followed the old Via Augusta road. It went through many towns and cities. Some of the main places included Figueres, Girona, Mataró, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Reus. In Barcelona, the chain went along important streets like Avinguda Diagonal.

Beyond Catalonia

The Catalan Way also had extensions. One went north into France, to Le Boulou. Another went south into the Valencian Community, to Vinaròs. These extensions allowed more people to join.

Around the world

Catalans living abroad also organized their own "Catalan Ways." These events happened in over 116 cities worldwide. They took place between August and September 2013. More than 8,000 Catalans and supporters joined these events. They wanted to show support for Catalonia's independence.

These international events happened in many places, including:

Americas: Cities like New York City, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Santiago.
Europe: Cities like London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome.
Africa: Cities like Johannesburg.
Asia: Cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Oceania: Cities like Sydney and Auckland.

A practice Catalan Way in Lisbon, on 30 August
A practice Catalan Way in Paris, on 2 September
A practice Catalan Way in Stockholm, on 31 August
A protest for independence in Times Square, New York City, on 31 August

What happened after the Catalan Way?

Reactions against the chain

Some groups did not support the Catalan Way. They wanted to show support for Spain's unity. One group planned a protest in Barcelona. However, the government said it could not happen at the same time and place as the human chain.

On the day of the Catalan Way, some people attacked an official ceremony in Madrid. They were carrying flags that supported Spain's unity. They caused damage and hurt some people.

Political discussions

After the Catalan Way, the organizers said the Catalan government should set a date for a vote on independence. They wanted a "yes" or "no" question. A Catalan government spokesperson said a date and question should be decided before the end of the year.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Spain said the government needed to listen to all Spaniards. This included those who protested and those who stayed home. Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs admitted the Catalan Way was well-organized. However, he said Spain would never agree to a vote on independence for Catalonia.

International reactions

The European Commission said they respected the Catalan Way. They knew it was important. But they also said they could not get involved in Spain's internal matters.

The Prime Minister of Latvia said his country would recognize Catalonia if it became independent through a fair process. He said countries have the right to self-determination. However, Latvia later clarified that they see it as an internal matter for Spain.

The Prime Minister of Lithuania also said that each country has the right to choose its own path. He was happy that the Baltic Way had inspired Catalonia. Lithuania's Foreign Ministry later said that Spain is a democratic country and a close partner. They said Spain's issues should be solved using its own laws and constitution.

Later events

The Catalan Way led to similar large protests in the following years. These included the Catalan Way 2014, the Free Way to the Catalan Republic (2015), and Go ahead, Catalan Republic (2016).