On Sunday, October 1, Catalan voters said Yes in a referendum on independence from Spain. Many of those who stood in line to vote were shot at with rubber bullets by Spanish police who claimed the referendum was against the law. The police also destroyed voting stations and ballots. Nearly 900 people were injured. Many who do not favour separation boycotted the vote. On Tuesday, Catalonia went on a general strike to protest the police violence. The leader of Catalonia’s separatist government says it will declare independence within days. Catalonia is Spain’s richest region and has its own language, culture, and history.