Anti-separatists in Catalonia march for fictional 'Tabarnia' region

Thousands of Catalans opposed to moves to split from Spain took to Barcelona's streets on Sunday, calling for the fictional "Tabarnia" region to cede from Catalonia, in a mocking attempt to undermine the separatist arguments. Some 15,000 people according to police - between 75,000 and 200,000 according to organisers - took part in the protest on behalf of "Tabernia" which encompasses the parts of Catalonia most opposed to splitting from Madrid.
The streets were filled with Spanish flags as well as those of the fictive region as the protesters marched through central Barcelona and to the Catalan parliament, where secessionists are in the majority. Among those joining Sunday's march was Alberto Fernandez Diaz, regional head of Spain's ruling Popular Party and Javier Ortega Smith, head of the ultra-conservative Vox party Last October Catalonians voted, in a referendum declared illegal by Madrid, for independence from Spain. Weeks later, separatist lawmakers declared independence on October 27.