--- title: "While you were sleeping: 2 October 2017" description: "Catalan leader calls for independence, Kim Jong Nam murderers plead not guilty, and NFL players take a knee in protest." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-10-02-while-you-were-sleeping-2-october-2017/" published: "2017-10-02T05:59:50" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 629 --- # While you were sleeping: 2 October 2017 > Catalan leader calls for independence, Kim Jong Nam murderers plead not guilty, and NFL players take a knee in protest. By John Stupart · Published 2 October 2017, 07:59 SAST ## Content **Monday, 2 October 2017** *"A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi . . . has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It’s not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for."* **Thurgood Marshall** ![Elections aftermath: Why did the ANC ignore its own research?](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/53/403/812/csimport/849x493q70Poplak-KPMG-bB-edit.060746.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [TRAINSPOTTER: Billable Hours — how SA’s best and brightest screwed the country out of a future](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-c/) By RICHARD POPLAK Idiots are bad. Smart people are worse. [Catalan leader calls for independence 'right' after vote](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-q/) After a chaotic weekend for Catalan people hoping to vote peacefully, the region's leader Carles Puigdemont stated that 90% of those who did cast a vote wanted independence. The "illegal" referendum was viciously suppressed by Spanish police, with the government blankly refusing to allow even a shred of legitimacy for the vote. If Spain wants home-grown terrorism, this is how you foster it. [Kim Jong Un half brother's murderers plead not guilty](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-a/) The two women arrested for the murder of Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Un's half-brother, have pleaded not guilty. Caught poisoning him on CCTV, the duo used a deadly chemical labelled as a weapon of mass destruction. The two suspects' defence now rests on the argument that the real killers have long since fled Malaysia. [More protests at NFL games after Tweets](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-f/) Players in almost all franchise games took a knee on Sunday in protest of violence on black Americans, and a callous presidential social media account. Players kneeled again as President Donald Trump Tweeted: "Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country!" [Team USA secure easy President's Cup](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-z/) In the end, team USA only needed a single point to secure victory on Sunday. Defeating a battling International squad, Team USA appeared to be a formidable "juggernaut", as the former's captain Nick Price called it. For team International, no taste of victory has been had since 1998. IN NUMBERS 19 The hours of darkness often experienced during winter in Sweden. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1869 **Mahatma Gandhi** is born. It is actually possible - but expensive - for **commercial airliners** to have parachutes for every single passenger. ![Image](https://i6.createsend1.com/ei/d/53/403/812/csimport/GleakswN24.190025.jpg) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Carien-Eastern-Cape-PEC.jpg) [ANC Leadership Race: Eastern Cape hands key victory to Ramaphosa](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-jr/) BY CARIEN DU PLESSIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70marelise-heywoodInterview.jpg) [The Interview: Mark Heywood](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-ujvyul-l-jj/) BY MARELISE VAN DER MERWE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70EFS_1Oct.jpg) [Evita's Free Speech: Ep.110 – Is 82 the new 45? 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