SCORES of people have been arrested after thousands of people took part in demonstrations across Catalonia in support of jailed rapper Pablo Hasel.
Since the artist was detained almost a week ago, the mostly younger protesters have taunted police in the capital Barcelona, and other towns and cities.
Stones and other objects were thrown at the Palau de la Musica concert hall, and designer stores were looted on one of Barcelona’s premier shopping areas, the exclusive Passeig de Gracia Avenue.
Police were pelted with rocks in Lleida, where Hasel had barricaded himself into a university building before police took him away to begin a nine-month sentence for insulting Spain’s monarchy and praising terrorist violence in his lyrics.
Catalan interior minister, Miquel Samper, condemned the protestors, accusing them of “acts of pure vandalism”.
Barcelona mayor, Ada Colau, appealed for calm: “Defending freedom of expression doesn’t justify in any case the destruction of property, frightening our fellow citizens, and hurting businesses already hurt by the [Covid-19] crisis.”
Journalist and broadcaster Tim Parfitt joined the criticism, tweeting: “Nike, Decathlon, Hugo Boss, Versace, Louis Vuitton and the Palau de la Musica didn’t put Pablo Hasel in prison. You vandals have lost the plot.
“You also kill the voice of peaceful protesters.
“Go home and grow up.”
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