Catalonia independence vote turns violent days after Trump meets with Spanish PM

Chaos and disorder overtook the Spanish region of Catalonia’s effort to hold an independence referendum on Sunday, just days after President Trump urged for Spain to remain united ahead of the vote. 

The referendum comes after the Spanish courts and the central government in Madrid ruled that Catalonia’s vote on whether to break away from Spain was unconstitutional. 

Police deployed by the central government clashed with voters and demonstrators hoping to take part in the region’s independence vote. 

Police in riot gear reportedly used rubber bullets and attempted to shut down polling stations, according to The New York Times.

Hundreds injured in clashes with police as Catalonia defies Spain, holds vote on independence https://t.co/kmathvrWMW pic.twitter.com/IyvIJMjBKY

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 1, 2017

Catalonia’s govt spokesman says Spanish govt will have to answer to international courts for referendum violencehttps://t.co/piorHdNKgG pic.twitter.com/pbgDQ2c038

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) October 1, 2017

Images of riot police beating up voters in Catalonia and seizing ballot boxes sparks outrage on social media https://t.co/P8Ca5hCFyd pic.twitter.com/kJeRZALpBW

— Bloomberg (@business) October 1, 2017

The clashes come days after Trump met with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Washington. 

Trump, speaking alongside Rajoy on Tuesday, said he hoped the country would remain united. 

“I can say, speaking only for myself, I would like to see Spain continue to be united,” the president said during the press conference.

{mosads}

“I think the people of Catalonia have been talking about this for a long time. I bet you, if you had accurate numbers and accurate polling, you would find they love their country,” he said. 

Rajoy predicted during the press conference the referendum would lead to chaos. 

“It is just crazy,” he said. “All this will lead to is noise. But certainly, there can be a valid democratic referendum with guarantees, with minimum guarantees. I think what would make sense in a situation such as this is to go back to common sense and put an end to this whole story. The only thing it’s doing is generating division, tensions, and it is not contributing in any way to the citizen’s situation. I want this to be resolved as soon as possible. And I want this to go into a new stage where the rule of law and common sense prevail.”