Reader Kyle:

I think they're tired of EU taxation.

By Tyler Durden

Central Barcelona has reportedly been paralyzed as mass protests which international reports estimate to number over a half-million people are driven by outrage at harsh prison sentences for pro-independence leaders handed down by the top Spanish court.

Protest leaders are vowing “the streets will be ours” as they push for Catalan independence, and as riot police have begun clashing with stone-throwing activists, who are also in some places of the city setting makeshift roadblocks ablaze.

With night fall, reporters on the ground are describing what’s beginning to resemble a war zone, with increasing violence against police, as also both far-left and far-right agitators are said to be infiltrating the crowd and engaged in increasing violence and vandalism.

Meanwhile, demonstrators were said to have blocked at least 20 major roads in and around Barcelona, also causing a much-anticipated soccer match between Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid to be postponed.

#Barcelona.

5th day of protests against an oppressive Spain that charges against its own civilians in Catalonia.

Someone PLEASE tell me why the police needs to do this against peaceful protesters.

Europe, open your eyes!!!#SpainISaFascistState pic.twitter.com/94uHKsgfw2

— Robin Rooth 🎗 (@SoCal_CAT) October 18, 2019

Throughout Friday about 100 people were reported injured as the protests spread throughout the northeast region, a number expected to grow.

Map via BBC

Home to about 7.5 million people, the wealthy and linguistically distinct Catalonia region has its own parliament and flag; however, Catalan nationalists have long complained that Madrid over-taxes the region for the sake of Spain’s poorer regions and cities.