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Catalans urged to strike to protest police crackdown on poll

People hit pots with sticks to make noise supporting the vote for Yes in the Sunday, Oct. 1 referendum on the Catalonia region's independence, in Cornella, outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Catalan leaders accused Spanish police of brutality and repression while the Spanish government praised the security forces for behaving firmly and proportionately. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People hit pots with sticks to make noise supporting the vote for Yes in the Sunday, Oct. 1 referendum on the Catalonia region's independence, in Cornella, outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Catalan leaders accused Spanish police of brutality and repression while the Spanish government praised the security forces for behaving firmly and proportionately. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

By Associated Press October 3, 2017 1 min read

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Labor unions and grassroots pro-independence groups are urging workers to hold partial or full-day strikes throughout Catalonia to protest alleged brutality by police during a referendum on the region’s secession from Spain that left hundreds of people injured.

The strike call comes as Catalan leaders ponder a possible declaration of independence this week following the referendum that Spain said was illegal and invalid.

Port workers were being called to demonstrate Tuesday outside the regional headquarters of Spain’s ruling Popular Party while firefighters planned a rally outside the Interior Ministry’s regional office in the Catalan capital of Barcelona.

Protests were also to be staged outside polling stations where police acted with force to try to prevent Sunday’s poll being held.