This article originally appeared on VICE SpainOn Tuesday the 3rd of October, two days after Catalonia's independence referendum, thousands of Catalans went on a general strike. They took to the streets to protest the police violence that occurred during the referendum – with Spanish riot police closing off polling stations and using batons and rubber bullets to stop voters from casting their ballots. At least 844 people and 33 police officers were injured throughout the day.
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Tuesday's region-wide protest was backed by Catalonia's workers' unions, and many schools, universities, shops and businesses – including football team FC Barcelona – were shut down for the day. An estimated 15,000 demonstrators got together in Barcelona, many of them gathering outside the local headquarters of the Spanish national police.Catalonia's president, Carles Puigdemont, is expected to make a statement sometime in the next week on whether the region will officially declare independence – a decision that could lead to more violence and protests across the country.Scroll down to see more photos from Tuesday's general strike in Barcelona.
Thousands of mock ballots were left on the streets of Barcelona.
An out of service sign on a taxi.
A sign reading "I want a democracy".
A "closed" sign in a shop.
A man holding a sign quoting former Chilean president Salvador Allende, "History is ours, and people make history."
"Democracy is measured by votes, not by batons".
A sign calling for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign.
"I don't support independence, but don't touch my people."