Javi Julio

Photographer

www.javijulio.com

October Days

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Location: San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain

Nationality: Spanish

Biography: San Sebastian, Basque Country (1978) is a photojournalist and filmmaker. He has worked as a freelance photo and video journalist collaborating with different international media and agencies, focusing his objective on social struggles, respect... MORE

On October 1, 2017 and after months of preparations, the Generalitat of Catalonia called a referendum on independence from Spain.
Thousands of people turned out to vote and to defend the schools where voting was taking place from being closed by the Spanish police.

After the results where 43% of the census voted, 90% approved the independence of Catalonia.

During the following days, mobilizations and general strike were called in support of the "process" and the result of the polls. These were the days of October.

September 29th, 2017. Barcelona...he days leading up to the vote.

September 29th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Two people walk through the center of Barcelona with posters calling for a YES vote for the referendum, in the days leading up to the vote.

October 3rd, 2017. Barcelona, S...s leading up to the referendum.

October 3rd, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A demonstration with Catalan pro-independence flags is taking place in the streets of Barcelona in the days leading up to the referendum.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona...ag in the streets of Barcelona.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A boy paints his face with the colors of the pro-independence Catalan flag in the streets of Barcelona.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelon...nment Delegation in Barcelona.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A pro-independence crowd gathered at the Spanish Government Delegation in Barcelona.

September 29th, 2017. Barcelon...litat government had prepared.

September 29th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A person asks for the ballot that will be used in the independence referendum in Barcelona. Days before, the police had seized and destroyed the ballots that the Generealitat government had prepared.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelon... where voting will take place.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Under the threat of being evicted by the police, thousands of people stand guard at the schools where the referendum will take place.
On the wall, activities during the weekend to stay in one of the schools where voting will take place.

September 29th, 2017. Barcelon...der men stand guard with them.

September 29th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A group of young people wake up at the University of Barcelona, where they have been on guard against the threat of eviction by the Spanish police.
Beside them, two older men stand guard with them.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelon... referendum from taking place.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.An assembly is held in a school. Hundreds of people remain locked in schools due to the threat from the Spanish police of being evicted to prevent the referendum from taking place.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ... boxes but had not found them.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A person enters with the ballot boxes that will be used for the referendum at the Moses Brogi school in Barcelona.
For weeks, the Spanish police had searched for the ballot boxes but had not found them.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...ing to prevent the referendum.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Minutes before 9 in the morning, schools begin to open their doors to celebrate the referendum.
During the night, dozens of people remained at their doors due to the news that the Spanish police were going to prevent the referendum.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Minutes before 9 in the morning, schools begin to open their doors to celebrate the referendum.
During the night, dozens of people remained at their doors due to the news that the Spanish police were going to prevent the referendum.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...ndence of Catalonia from Spain

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
People begin to vote in the referendum for the independence of Catalonia from Spain

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...n to put it in the ballot box.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
An older woman proudly displays her vote in her hand as she waits for her turn to put it in the ballot box.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...g the ballot into the envelope

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
The hands of a person who is going to vote YES inserting the ballot into the envelope

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...eople voting in the ballot box

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Detail of a people voting in the ballot box

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...he people next to him applaud.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A person leans on the ballot box after voting, excited while the people next to him applaud.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...ide, dozens of people applaud.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
An elderly person leaves school crying after voting in the referendum. Outside, dozens of people applaud.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...ña before 8:00 p.m.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Hundreds of people wait for the results in Plaza Cataluña before 8:00 p.m.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ...owing the results at 8:00 p.m.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Dozens of media wait in the square to begin the live broadcasts, before knowing the results at 8:00 p.m.

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, ... voted. The YES has won by 90%

October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
The result of the referendum is the following:
43% of the census have voted. The YES has won by 90%

September 30th , 2017. Barcelo...Government of the Generalitat.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Protesters against the referendum and for the unity of Spain demonstrate in Plaza Sant Jaume, in front of the Government of the Generalitat.

September 30th , 2017 . Barcel...Government of the Generalitat.

September 30th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Protesters against the referendum and for the unity of Spain demonstrate in Plaza Sant Jaume, in front of the Government of the Generalitat.

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, ...dum and for the unity of Spain

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A demonstration against the referendum and for the unity of Spain

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, ..., in front of the Generalitat.

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Hundreds of people demonstrate against the referendum and for the unity of Spain in Plaza Sant Jaume, in front of the Generalitat.

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Hundreds of people demonstrate against the referendum and for the unity of Spain

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, ...in and against the referendum.

October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
A Spanish flag in a garbage can after the demonstration for the unity of Spain and against the referendum.

October 3th, 2017. Barcelona, ... speech against the referendum

October 3th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
From a bar, several people listen to the King of Spain's speech against the referendum

October 1th, 2017. Barcelona, ...ce flag checks his cell phone.

October 1th, 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
Empty streets days after the demonstrations. A young man with the Catalan independence flag checks his cell phone.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Thumbnail of September 29th, 2017. Barcelona,_the days leading up to the vote.

Thumbnail of October 3rd, 2017. Barcelona, Sp_ys leading up to the referendum.

Thumbnail of September 30th, 2017. Barcelona,_lag in the streets of Barcelona.

Thumbnail of September 30th, 2017. Barcelona_rnment Delegation in Barcelona.

Thumbnail of September 29th, 2017. Barcelona_alitat government had prepared.

Thumbnail of September 30th, 2017. Barcelona_s where voting will take place.

Thumbnail of September 29th, 2017. Barcelona_lder men stand guard with them.

Thumbnail of September 30th, 2017. Barcelona_e referendum from taking place.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_t boxes but had not found them.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_oing to prevent the referendum.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_endence of Catalonia from Spain

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_rn to put it in the ballot box.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_ng the ballot into the envelope

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_people voting in the ballot box

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_the people next to him applaud.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_side, dozens of people applaud.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_uña before 8:00 p.m.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_nowing the results at 8:00 p.m.

Thumbnail of October 1st, 2017. Barcelona, S_e voted. The YES has won by 90%

Thumbnail of September 30th , 2017. Barcelon_ Government of the Generalitat.

Thumbnail of September 30th , 2017 . Barcelo_ Government of the Generalitat.

Thumbnail of October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, S_ndum and for the unity of Spain

Thumbnail of October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, S_e, in front of the Generalitat.

Thumbnail of October 4th, 2017. Barcelona, S_ain and against the referendum.

Thumbnail of October 3th, 2017. Barcelona, S_s speech against the referendum

Thumbnail of October 1th, 2017. Barcelona, S_nce flag checks his cell phone.

Public Story

October Days

Copyright Javi Julio 2024

Updated Sep 2023

Topics Documentary, Elections, Photography, Photojournalism

On October 1, 2017, a referendum on self-determination was held in Catalonia, where the question posed was, "Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?"

The Spanish state tried to stop this consultation, calling it "illegal", sending for it more than 10,000 policemen to find the ballot boxes and ballots that were going to be used.

However, through non-violent civil disobedience, hundreds of people hid the ballot boxes and prepared ballots, even occupying the polling stations to prevent the police from closing them.

This is the chronicle of that week in Barcelona.

Javi Julio

Sep 15, 2023

Story

Basque Country

Javi Julio / Basque Country

Sep 1, 2013 - Ongoing

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