Yes when the south wanted to leave the union. The US didn't let that go as well.

Well, as a Spanish I have a lot to say about this issue, so I'll do my best to explain things as I see them.

I support the independent movement, not in Catalonia, because I'm not a catalan myself, I'm from another part of Spain, Galicia (my actual first language isn't Spanish, is Galician XD), which also have legit claims about independence, though in here is not as widely accepted as it is in other parts of Spain, like Basque Country and Catalonia. But, though I sympathize about the independent claims, part of the catalonian government is full of corruption. So I guess they want to be out of Spain because they want to cover up their own corruption. Nevertheless, there are a huge percentage of the Catalonian people who is independent, so the referendum has to be done. And ideally, in a legal way.

The thing is that our Constitution doesn't allow a referendum to take place, so this referendum was illegal according to the Spanish government, which is actually true. The fact that we can't vote about this issue in any part of the country is stupid. I support a change to the Constitution to allow these referendums to take place, and to recognize that this country is home to several nations. The Spanish government acted in a really irresponsible way, using force against citizens who showed passive resistance, and with the only harm, going with a vote. Which, ironically, is provoking that the independent movement grows at a fast rate. That can't happen in a supposed "democracy". So I think we haven't moved on totally from the dictatorship which took place about 40 years ago. We still live in a moderate fascism. And, well, the problem is that as far as I know most of the people support it. I read tons of comments in these last days supporting police brutality against the Catalonian people.

So, this conflict isn't going to end unless they try to stablish a dialogue between the Catalonian and Spanish government. This isn't going to happen though, unless some international organism acts and sit both of those governemnts to talk and reach a common ground.

Going by their nonsense logic Barcelona should be independent from Catalonia since they are stealing its money because Barcelona gives more to them than it gets and since referendums should all be legal (or so they say) they should respect them if they want to go out from their own region. Next Cartagena should ask for independence again, and then Bavaria, and then California, and then Padania, and then Flandes, etc etc until every rich region is separated from their countries, cause that's what democracy means apparently, more and more separation for egotistical reasons.

I know that the total amount of habitants and people able to vote are not the same thing. I was just mentioning it because I recall seeing reports of children also voting during the illegal referendum, so I was just assuming it's fair ground to give all the numbers in this scenario.

You mean 5 million people voted but only 2m votes remained because the rest were taken away?

Spain grossly overstepped their boundaries with the police violence. But... The Catalan people are under NO circumstance oppressed.

Corrupt cowards willing to sacrifice the health and wealth of their fellow citizens in their fight over the money they want to fill their pockets with.

What a great thing to see.

Exacly , thats my point. No soverign nation would accept the secesion of any part of its country if they can avoid it - even if war is the price to pay. Using double standards is not very productive and is very unfair, like when the USA or European countries play with the idea of an Independent Tibet despite Tibet being part of China since the Yuan Dynasty (longer than the USA existed).  The saying "Whats good for the goose is good for the gander" comes to mind, why would Spain accept the secession when such an act would cause a Civil War in the USA or in suppression that far exceeds that of the Spanish on the Catalan region. 

The best solution to this problem is not calling the opposition Fascist, totalitarian or human-rights breakers. The solution is diplomatic and there should be discussions on regional autonomy.  If tomorrow Texas held a referendum and the populace declared a win for Independence I highly dought that the USA would accept the referendum. The same double standard is practiced by Russia as well, Russia invades Ukraine and steals land based on regional desires of Russian speakers in Ukraine but they would crack down on any Region in Russia that wanted to secede like the people in Chechnya.

I hope there is a peaceful solution to the issue of Catalonia but I don't see a way for Catalans to gain true Independence unless they engage in a costly war.  Croatia became Independent regardless of the wishes of Serbia or anyone else, we had to liberate our lands and drive the Serbs out.

Tbh, though I support the referendum, this must be done in a normal way. Those were far from the ideal conditions to vote, so the numbers mustn't be taken seriously. It's a fact that there're a huge percentage of the catalonian people who is independent, but I doubt the validity of the results. 

I don't support the beating though, I think that's the most stupid thing Spain has done in a long time and we should get rid of our terrible president as soon as possible, but you are falling into a trap, just because Spain reacted on a fascist way doesn't mean Catalonian governement was acting right neither it means that the independentists are the good guys here, Catalonia is already one of the richest and most independents regions of Europe, but they want more and as a result this is only going to cause inestability around Europe because its gonna make other independentist movements grow all around the continent.

No. Of the 7 million or so people living here, only 5 could vote, and of those only 2 million did.

By the way, if my memory serves me right, in the other non-official referendum that happened almost three years ago also voted about 2 million people. And for reference, in the latest catalan elections, the split in votes between independent parties and non independent ones was something about 49-50, with the rest being null.