The separatists are determined to move forward with tomorrow's referendum

Having captured dozens of schools to act as election centers in the run-up to tomorrow's referendum, supporters of Catalonia's independence say they are ready to hold the vote despite a ban on justice and a warning to the Spanish government that it will block it in any way.

"Votarem" (we will vote in the Catalan), yesterday evening, about 10,000 people gathered in the last election campaign of Karls Pudgemont, the president of this province of northeastern Spain and leader of the separatists.

"These incredibly intense and very moving moments, we feel we can touch our dream," Pudgemond said.

The heads of separatists assured yesterday that on Sunday, the day of the referendum, they will have 2,315 polling stations, of which 207 in Barcelona.

However, the electoral commission was dissolved because of the risk of being fined and only by separatists, which undermined its credibility.

The peaceful occupations began yesterday evening in dozens of schools in Catalonia, while on Wednesday justice had called on the police to close down the places to be used as polling stations, including schools.

According to various messages on social networking sites, many dozens of buildings have been occupied.

"I will sleep here with my great son," said Tzilla Losa, a mother of three children from Barcelona's Reina Violand Elementary School, which the pupils' parents have occupied.

"Committees for the defense of the referendum" have been set up in each district and have handed out brochures with advice, calling on the separatists, in particular, to remain peaceful.

Taking advantage of the right to 'organize extra-curricular activities', pupils' parents have taken some schools to keep them open by organizing pinnacle, cinema nights under the stars, pajamas;

Spain's Constitutional Court has banned the referendum on Sunday, but "has said nothing about recreational activities" on Friday and Saturday, Jordy Sanchez explained the president of the Catalan National Assembly.

The security forces, who have seized millions of ballots since mid-September, are still looking for the thousands of polls that the separatists want to use for the referendum.

"I insist that there will be no referendum on 1 October," Spanish government spokesman Menendez de Vigo said yesterday during a press conference following a weekly cabinet meeting, reiterating the government's position that the vote was illegal.

The quarrel between Madrid and the separatists of Catalonia is one of the worst crises that Spain has suffered since the restoration of democracy in 1975 following the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Madrid has increased legal and police operations in recent weeks, triggering protests by separatists.

Police in the province have expressed concern about the outbreak of incidents and announced yesterday that in the case of occupation of electoral centers, they will inform the organizers that they have to leave them "before 6:00 in the morning of Sunday".

Madrid has sent aid to some 10,000 men of security forces in Catalonia.

Despite threats of sanctions, fines, investigations and accusations, separatists are proceeding with the referendum, even though the province of 7.5 million people is deeply divided.

In a suburb of Barcelona, ​​2,000 people participated in an event of the Ciudadanos party, opposed to the referendum, holding Spanish flags.

"They want to destroy everything, Spain and Catalonia," complained Detrores Molero, 53.

The rise of the separatists has been rapid since the financial crisis of 2008, and especially after the Constitutional Court's decision in 2010 to suspend Catalonia's autonomy following an appeal by the People's Party of Prime Minister Mariano Rahoy.

In September 2015, the separatists won most seats in the local parliament with 47.6% of the votes.

But the latest poll conducted at the request of the regional government in July showed that opponents of Catalonia's independence are more than its supporters, 49.4% against 41.4%.