Pictures from the Spanish Pro-Union Rally in Barcelona

This article originally appeared on VICE Spain

On the 1st of October 2017, thousands of Catalans voted in an independence referendum – a vote both the Spanish government and a Spanish court have ruled unconstitutional. But on the day of the referendum, Spanish riot police used their batons and rubber bullets outside a number of polling stations in an attempt to stop Catalans from voting. By the time polls closed, 844 people and 33 officers were treated for their injuries.

Since then, Catalonian president Carles Puidgemont has promised the region will declare independence, while Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has stated that the government will do whatever they can to stop Catalonia from seceding. In response to the growing stand-off, both pro-union and pro-referendum demonstrations have been taking place across Spain.

Sunday, the 9th of October saw the latest of such protests, with people gathering in the streets of Barcelona in support of a united Spain. The organisers of the event, the Societat Civil Catalana (SCC), claim that 950,000 took part in the demonstration, but local officials say the number was closer to 350,000.

The event was titled "The Movement of the Silent Majority" – an attempt to push back against the accepted wisdom that the majority of Catalans want independence. At the protest, we spoke to Catalan couple Diego and Carolina, who said they were upset that only one side is allowed to represent the views of all of Catalonia. "We should hear the opinions of all Catalans, not just a few," Carolina said. Noelia, who lives in Valencia but says her family are from Catalonia, claimed that emotions are so strong across Spain, her family now "feel afraid to walk outside with a Spanish flag."

As the demonstration made its way from one of Barcelona's main squares, the Plaza Urquinaona, down the popular Via Laietana street, people chanted slogans that have become synonymous with the pro-union movement, such as "Puidgemont in prison" and "I won't be deceived, Catalonia is Spain." The event also attracted people from outside the region, with busloads of pro-union demonstrators arriving from cities like Madrid and Valencia throughout the day.

Scroll down to see more photos from Sunday's demonstration.