Impunity is over. Attacking, insulting or coercing the protesters who march every afternoon on October 9, the day of the Valencian Community, in Valencia called by nationalist or Valencianist groups had never had a price for the aggressors, until today. Because 26 of the 28 accused ultras who attacked the 2017 march called by the “9 d’Octubre commission” have acknowledged this morning the crimes committed in the trial for these events and have agreed with the prosecutor’s office to reduce the requested sentences to avoid enter prison. In her provisional qualification, the prosecutor accused the defendants of hate crimes, public disorder, coercion, minor threats, injuries and mistreatment. The private accusations are brought by the Comissió 9 d’Octubre and the Movement against Intolerance.
Specifically, the defendants who have reached a conformity agreement accept sentences of between 2 and 1.4 years compared to the between 3 and 7 years requested by the prosecutor and between 5 and 11 years requested by the private accusations. In addition, each one agrees to pay 1,700 euros in civil liability for the injuries and damage caused to the equipment of the informants they attacked. They must also avoid coming within three and a half years of the homes of those organizing the demonstration and within 300 meters of future demonstrations. Two of the accused do not accept this agreement with the prosecution.
This trial should have been held last September, but was suspended until March due to disagreements between the accusations and defenses with the restraining orders established and which included the headquarters of entities. Now the trial will continue on March 4 with only the two defendants who have not reached an agreement with the prosecution.
The attacks that are being judged occurred on the afternoon of October 9, 2017, on the Day of the Valencian Community, in a few days in which the climate due to the Catalan process was generating a strong upheaval in Catalonia. Before the start of the demonstration called by the Comissió 9 d’Octubre, a group of ultras attacked the protesters, overcoming the police barrier while they were recorded by television cameras. The attackers also hit the journalists and photojournalists who were following the event and a multitude of people who were in the area.
The prosecutor highlights in her story that these attacks were preceded by an appeal through social networks. “I want to live a historic moment, the first year without Estelada for Valencia on 9-O. Do I count on you? Pza San Agustín 9-X-17,” said one of the accused. This call was responded to by a large group of people who gathered on the morning of October 9 next to the Mestalla football field behind a Yomus CN10 banner: “The congregants headed to the center of the city with the purpose of hindering development.” of the demonstration and confront those who attend because of their ideology,” maintains the prosecutor.
The story continues to specify the actions of its protagonists. Thus, it is noted that, in the afternoon, one of the accused, known as El Alfarrasí, who had held the leadership of the defunct Valencia CF Yomus club, entered the Plaza de San Agustín, the starting point of the demonstration, together to other people singing songs, shouting and performing the salute that consisted of keeping one’s arm raised, typical of fascist and neo-Nazi movements.
“The actions of these people, who rebuked the protesters and rushed towards where they were, despite the police cordon, caused the cordon to finally give way. This gave rise to a stampede that made normal progress impossible at all. of the summoned demonstration”.
In summary, the story continues, throughout the march through the streets of “They were aborted by the police. They had to be guarded and placed between them and the attackers throughout the entire journey.”
