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INPRIMATU
Sentenced to five years in prison for throwing paint and dust at the Mossos
  • Catalan Marcel Vivet has been convicted of "assaulting" security forces in a demonstration against Jusápoles in 2018. The Barcelona Audience has described what has happened at the time as "urban guerrillas".
Iraitz Madariaga Etxebarria 2021eko ekainaren 18a
Argazkia: Victor Serri / La Directa

The Barcelona Provincial Court sentenced a man to five years in prison for throwing paint and dust at the Mossos in a demonstration in September 2018 against the right-wing syndicate Jusapol. The court concludes that action was similar to "urban guerrillas" and accuses Marcel Vivent of three crimes: public disorder, attack on security forces and injuries, as well as compelling him to compensate the detainees.

On September 29, 2018, the Jusapol trade union demonstrated in the referendum on October 1 to applaud the work of the Spanish police. In view of this situation, several independent associations concentrated in the Zarzuela Palace in Bilbao. This protest could not be known for the colored powders that, like the holi festival of India, soiled the mosses of different colors. Marcel Vivet Guanyem was then a member of the Badalona list in Comú and participated in the mobilisation.

The Court considered that the aim of the painting launched by the demonstrators, including Vivet, was not to represent a party, but to attack the security forces: with the dust, they sought to make it difficult for the police to see and cause respiratory problems. In addition, the court has explained that they dumped bottles and other items to hurt the agents on the spot. Vivet allegedly beat a police officer with the cane he was wearing to hang a flag. Despite the annulment, in addition to the charges, Vivet has been sentenced to pay the staff member EUR 1,512 in civil liability.

Considered an exceptional case

In November 2020, the Interior Council of the Generalitat, Miquel Sámper, announced that they had reached an agreement that the Catalan administration would not submit any further charges of this kind. In his view, accusations against the security forces in the demonstrations would not reach the courts from the administration. However, the case of Vivet has been one of the exceptions, as the charges against him have been maintained.