“Supporters of the independence of the Spanish region of Catalonia today demonstrated in the streets of Barcelona as part of their traditional gathering, which takes place annually on September 11,” Agence France-Presse reports. This year, the National Assembly of Catalonia has chosen the slogan “We are back to win. Independence!” On the annual Diada holiday, which has witnessed massive demonstrations over the past ten years, this organization, which managed to gather some 1.8 million people in 2014, is leading the movement for independence in this region of northeast Spain, and now the task is to to resurrect a movement that faced a period of uncertainty after the failure of its bid for secession in October 2017 is the regional government led by Carles Puigdemont, which declared independence after a self-determination referendum that Madrid deemed illegal.

“We expect nothing more from the parties, only the people and organized civil society will be able to achieve independence,” the National Assembly of Catalonia said in a statement. The separatist movement remains strong, especially because of the majority it enjoys in the Catalan Parliament. And she continued in her statement that “this situation cannot be spoiled by negotiations with the Spanish state and internal disputes.”