Why are anti-independence Catalans so silent?

Question

The polls I have seen showcase that at least 40%, perhaps a bit more, of the Catalan population oppose independence.

Yet, in the last few days and weeks, all I've heard is 4 types of people talking about this matter:

1. Pro-independence Catalans
2. Anti-independence non-Catalan Spaniards
3. Pro-independence foreigners who seem to talk a lot about this issue without knowing much about it.
4. Neutral observes who call it an "internal matter"

But where are the anti-independence foreigners joined by anti-independence Catalans? Why are they not being heard? 40% is a huge number. Why is their opinion not represented?

Answer 1

You needn't a political movement to force your country's police do their job

Apologies for a bit of bold title (in both senses), but this is precisely the answer.

In most national-liberation movements, the "pro-" secession faction is more active than their opponents. That's because the separatists need changes, while their opponents prefer to keep things the way how they are. In other words, if someone is "anti-"secession, they almost automatically become "pro-" the existing order:

Borders.
Type of government.
Country's affiliations and memberships (cf. the EU).
Law and Order.

Which is precisely the job of the National police, National Security service, etc.

Unless the anti-secession Catalans suspect their police of neglecting its duties, there's no need to protest. There are numerous reports that the Spanish police was not passive recently.

Also, the impression of "so silent" can be made because foreigners often look at the mass protests, street violence, and similar events. However, there are several political parties in Parliament of Catalonia who continue political struggle.
For one, "Citizens" is known for its opposition to Catalonian nationalism and the secession.
The above would also answer the question, "Why is their opinion not represented?" — in fact, they are represented.

Answer 2

Why are they not being heard? 40% is a huge number. Why is their opinion not represented?

Quite possibly because they don't care as much. I.e. when asked the question, they say, "I'd prefer Catalonia stay a part of Spain", but they don't have nearly as strong of feelings as the pro-secession people. As we can see, they overwhelmingly stayed home.

Similarly, foreigners who don't approve of secession are unlikely to feel strongly about Catalan secession. What they really want is to oppose secession at home. Opposing Catalan secession doesn't really get them closer to that. If anything, it might provide another reason for domestic secessionists to condemn them. Meanwhile, foreigners who support secession can talk in high-minded terms about things like self-determination.

Opposing secession is more dependent on individual issues. For example, if the United Kingdom secedes from the European Union (as is in progress), what actually happens? Do they face higher tariffs? Will their citizens who were EU employees lose their pensions? Will EU countries give UK citizens visas? We've talked about some of those issues in regards to Brexit. That discussion is only starting for Catalonia. The Spanish government has concentrated on constitutional issues rather than issues of practicality.

A foreigner, or even a Catalan native, who opposes Catalan secession may not know what these issues are for Catalonia yet. As such, what would they have to say?

Perhaps Catalonia will have a unity movement where secession opponents can concentrate themselves, making it easier for the media to find them and ask them questions. But until now, opponents seem to have concentrated more on avoiding admitting such a possibility.

Currently, it's easy to find proponents. They're celebrating in the streets and holding signs. When (if) opponents organize like that, we're likely to hear more from them.

Answer 3

I'd be very suspicious that the anti-independence side is being 'silent', it's much more likely that the media finds the violence of the separatists to be more appealing from a ratings standpoint. The same reason you don't see a great deal of positive reporting in general, it's not that everything in the world is bad, I'd argue that the amount of 'feel good' events actually exceeds the bad, but the minority of violent awful things is what gets a microscope placed on it.

Might also be worth investigating the demographics of both 'groups', people who don't like the status quo are usually those without any vested interest in it. While the average rioter might not have a nice job, or anything else that they fear losing, the remainers very likely do. The fact that leavers are willing to commit violence against the opposition is another strong incentive /not/ to make it known that you're part of the opposition. I vehemently disagree with Antifa's antics on our side of the atlantic, but I wouldn't risk my job by going out to meet them on the streets, or try to stick my neck out and risk being targeted, it's simply not worth it.

The average person is more than capable of weighing risk vs reward for themselves, there isn't yet any reason for the anti-independence crowd to stand up and shout, the risks are simply not worth the negligible reward. The spanish constitution to my understanding makes any independence illegal without the mutual support of the much larger majority that won't support it. At this point, it's a police action that needs invoked, political action isn't even necessary for their side to win if legality is the metric that determines this 'crisis'. If anything, engaging them politically is just as liable to lend more legitimacy to them, even if I don't think the average person involved in this will think of that when making their decision to remain 'silent'.

Worth pointing out that a google search for "anti-independence rally spain" brought up numerous results over the last few days. The events are presumably happening, even getting reported on, but not given prime time on whatever news network you are following(my first paragraph is likely why).

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-police-give-deadline-catalan-school-occupiers-50195992

http://www.euronews.com/2017/09/30/pro-and-anti-referendum-rallies-take-place-in-barcelona