Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police during demonstrations in Catalonia against the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel, convicted for calling the former Spanish king a thief, with cops in Barcelona firing rubber bullets.
Hasel, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duro, was arrested earlier on Tuesday after barricading himself inside the University of Lleida in Catalonia.
He is to serve a nine-month sentence handed down in 2018 over song lyrics and tweets regarding disgraced former monarch Juan Carlos I, and a social media post praising a Spanish Maoist terrorist group.
⚠️ “Dispara , dispara”
— Emili Puig (@emilipuig_) February 16, 2021
Vídeo : Emili Puig pic.twitter.com/90MDMRofuw
Over 200 artists have signed a petition against his imprisonment, saying it amounts to persecution of freedom of expression, and thousands of people took to the streets on Tuesday in a number of Catalonian cities to show their support for the rapper.
🎥 | Police shoot rubber bullets at protesters in the center of Barcelona following riots prompted by the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasel
— Catalan News (@catalannews) February 16, 2021
More at https://t.co/erea062wPD pic.twitter.com/tSew7DpYnv
In the regional capital Barcelona, huge crowds marched through the city streets calling for Hasel’s release.
Manifestación en Barcelona para pedir la libertad de Pablo Hasel.
— Toni Cantó (@Tonicanto1) February 16, 2021
Tú no abras tu negocio, o tu local, que hay restricciones por el covid. pic.twitter.com/R8fsvOAzME
Clashes broke out there too, with protesters throwing various projectiles at police and turning dumpsters into flaming barricades while riot cops fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
🔴 Els manifestants salven una moto de les flames durant la crema de contenidors en suport a Pablo Hasel. #PabloHasel pic.twitter.com/KWtJvIO7E1
— David Melero (@davidmelero__) February 16, 2021
The demonstrations in Lleida, where Hasel was arrested, also descended into unrest, with eyewitness footage showing motorcycles ablaze and protesters throwing plastic chairs and other debris at police vans before officers charged at them with the vehicles.
En Lleida han quemado varias motos de la urbana.
— GeekIndignado🎗️ (@GeekIndignado) February 16, 2021
Hoy toda Catalunya puede ser Urquinaona. #LlibertatPabloHasel #LibertadPabloHasel pic.twitter.com/3w3ScZU7ks
En Lleida lanzan sillas a los Mossos #LlibertatPabloHasel #LibertadPabloHasel pic.twitter.com/x2BdkfTC8S
— GeekIndignado🎗️ (@GeekIndignado) February 16, 2021
In the Spanish city of Valencia, officers were filmed repeatedly lashing out with their batons and striking protesters while they pushed to clear the main square.
Cargas policiales en la concentración a favor de Pablo Hasel en Valencia: pic.twitter.com/SBFAztR6BE
— Lucas Marco (@lucas_marco) February 16, 2021
Demonstrators could be heard chanting “Without freedom of opinion there is no democracy”.
Spain’s government last week pledged to ease punishments for “crimes of express” such as hate speech and insults to the crown or to religion.
Over the years, Media outlets have gained a level of trust and accountability. Unfortunately, we have seen time after time that this image has been abused and they have become partisan outlets for political and strategical gains. I believe that the first job of a journalist is to deliver the news impartially and outlets have to distinguish between news broadcasting and opinion delivery.
