Generalitat de Cataluña sin funcionarios de la Generalitat

By:

Joy Bernal

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Joy Bernal

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Hola <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> University of South Carolina <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2023 <i>Destination city & country:</i> Barcelona, Spain <i>Program provider:</i> Institute of American Universities <i>Major/minor:</i> Chemistry & Criminology / Spanish <i>Future career aspirations:</i> Trauma surgery and Doctors Without Borders

Catalan Government without Government Officials

The photos below are of two government buildings facing each other in the middle of a town square. These buildings belong to the Catalan government (Catalunya is an autonomous region within Spain). However, many of the government officials are not actually in the buildings as they have been either jailed or exiled by the Spanish national government. This is in part because of the Catalan government talking about trying to gain its independence and become its own country over the years.

The banner hanging off the building in the picture reads “LLIBERTAT D’OPINIÓ I D’EXPRESSIÓ, ARTICLE 19 DE LA DECLARACIÓ UNIVERSAL DELS DRETS HUMANS” which translates to “FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION, ARTICLE 19 OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS”.

What an ironic, yet dramatically symbolic and thought-provoking thing to put on a building that represents, at least to the majority of Catalunya as a symbol of Catalan nationalism and independence.