The Spanish government has dramatically escalated its crackdown against an upcoming independence referendum in Catalonia. On Wednesday, the Spanish police raided the Catalan regional government’s offices and arrested at least 14 people. The arrests prompted thousands of people to pour into the streets of Barcelona to protest the crackdown. About a thousand more protesters gathered for a solidarity rally in Spain’s capital, Madrid. The referendum is scheduled for October 1. The Spanish government says the referendum is illegal. This is Catalan President Carles Puigdemont.

President Carles Puigdemont: “These days, and especially today, the Spanish government has de facto suspended the self-rule of Catalonia and has de facto applied a state of emergency. … Freedom is being suspended and repressed. The government of Catalonia will analyze in the coming hours, with economic and social and civic institutions, the appropriate response to give. In any case, citizens are called to vote on October 1 to defend democracy before a repressive and intimidating regime, which we have, to give a massive and civic response.”