Today I witnessed two completely distinct and separated worlds within just metres from each other.

The loud and very violent football supporters celebrating the victory of Barcelona in Champions League: explosions, fire, jumping around, singing and drinking on the Ramblas.

Then, just some metres away, Plaza Catalunya: surrounded by a wall of people standing quietly with signs saying: NO TO VIOLENCE.

Passing them calmly, anyone was allowed to enter. And when inside, one discovered tranquility, peace and a completely relaxed and harmless atmosphere, where people were simply sitting on the ground talking. The difference between these two places, the sensation they were giving and the people that were participating – was completely overwhelming.

I moved from fear and the adrenaline caused by firecrackers and people running away in panic – straight into an oasis of calmness – in a matter of minutes.

However, around 3 o’clock in the morning the sirens of the Special Forces started to sound and the situation got a lot more tense. We were informed that the football supporters were being dispersed from the Ramblas and that they were moving fast, followed by the police, towards the square.

The people were urged to strengthen the “human wall” and everybody chanted “NO TO VIOLENCE! NO TO VIOLENCE!”. Nobody was allowed to pass and I happened to find myself on the outside part of the “wall” as I had been shooting pictures which felt both uneasy and threatening. There was this wall of people, standing with their signs, there was me, and then there were huge amounts of panicking supporters aggressively trying to push their way through.. and behind them – violent police shooting rubber bullets.

The police tried various times to enter from the different sides of the square, but all of them had been closed in the same way by the people. I got through eventually, and the feeling of how powerful and peaceful the protection had been was just amazing.

The police left at 4.30am, applause sounded in the square and people were hugging.

I’m completely touched by how beautiful this movement is. Barcelona won today – twice. All my love goes to Plaza Catalunya!

Click the pictures for flickr.

Goodnight and see you tomorrow!

Today evening there were more people than I have ever seen at Plaza Catalunya. The masses were clearly upset about what had happened earlier today and there were many that loudly wanted to express their disapproval.

With colourful flowers and with their hands painted white, people of all ages showed the world that the movement would insist to keep the resistance non-violent no matter what, and that what they had witnessed today wasn’t going to be accepted by the society.

I’m very curious about where this is going.

I woke up this morning reading tweets from @acampadabcn urging people to come to Plaza Catalunya as the police had arrived and was acting violent towards the non-violent protesters. I got there an hour later, along with hundreds of other people.

I don’t scream but I take pictures, because police brutality is not okay, and the world needs to see this. Barcelona sin miedo is trending worldwide on Twitter. So is Plaza Cataluña, Felip Puig and now #confloresalas7 – the power of internet is incredible.

The people have taken over the square again. And at 7 they urge everybody to join the protest, with flowers. I’ll do my best to be there.

Here’s some photos from earlier today, the helicopter is still around.

27 de Mayo 2011, Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain