Around some 200 people have once again demanded the restitution of the names of the 2,936 shot on the walls of eastern cemeteryin Madrid, once finished Civil war. Summoned by the Platform in Defense of the Memorialdifferent political organizations have denounced the first decision that the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeidatook it once he entered the City Council: to eliminate the plaques with the names of these almost three thousand people who were murdered by the dictatorial regime recently established in 1936. The November 18, 2019 The tearing off of these plates began. Tomorrow it will be five years since that.
The day began a little before the tribute to those shot. Around the 10.30 a.m.about 20 people were milling around Carlosmember of the Cemeteries Associationat the entrance door to the civil cemetery. For just over two hours, this specialist in the eastern cemetery has taken a tour of the tombs of such renowned figures as Pablo Iglesias, Dolores Ibarruri, Julián Grimau, Julián Besteiro, Almudena Grandes, Francisco Largo Caballero, Marcelino Camacho and Pío Baroja.
The route ended at noon at the wall that saw almost 3,000 people shot during the immediate postwar period. There, about two hundred people waited for the start of the event in tribute to those murdered by Franco and to denounce the elimination of their names from the current memorial. Luis S. Fernandez has read a text during the protest as spokesperson for the Platform in Defense of the Memorial: “Franco’s repression was a process of physical, mental, political and cultural violence that was exercised against women and men, suspected of being supporters or sympathizers of the Republic“, he began to say.
“The memory of all the victims of Franco’s repression is an act of justice”
Later, this memoirist stated that “the war had ended and Spain was filled with silence, hatred, death and terror. No one could imagine what would come next,” and added: “The April 1, 1939 Neither peace, nor mercy, nor forgiveness came. Hatred and revenge came hand in hand.” From his point of view, “the memory of all the victims of Franco’s repression is an act of justice, a way to foster a deeper understanding of that dark period of that regime.” .
Memory as a weapon of protection
Likewise, he has also dedicated a few words to the attempts by the right and extreme right to review what happened in the 20th century and already protected by the vast majority of historiography: “They have wanted to amputate history from us, they continue trying with their laws of harmony, and, without those members, we cannot walk or advance. They will repeal, but they will not convince.
That’s why, Fernandez He has assured that “contributing to preventing historical amnesia, selective forgetting and the omission of parts of a country’s history is an obligation for all of us who are on the good side of history.” He has also claimed that “memory provides us with a weapon to protect ourselves, to be able to build a present and, above all, a future with a minimum of dignity.”
“Because they were, we are; because we are, they will be”
On the other hand, this member of the aforementioned Platform has expressed that “anti-fascist historical memory is a serious problem for a state based on the most miserable of impunities and the oblivion and contempt of the victims.” Finally, he pointed out that “there is no democracy as long as impunity remains and Francoism in the form of its courts and sentences continues to be legal and recognized”, just before receiving applause as he said goodbye with a concise message: “Because they were, we are; because we are, they will be.”
Left-wing organizations claim their dead
“Almeida wants the victims of Franco’s regime to remain forgotten”
Just a few meters from the plaques that honor the memory of the 13 Rosesspokespersons from other organizations have taken the floor. It has been the case of Laura Muñozactivist in UGT Madrid: “Almeida wants the victims of Francoism to remain forgotten and he wants his executioners to continue on the streets of our city as the heir of Francoism that he is. By removing their names he intends to dehumanize them, reduce them to a figure, a statistic, erase them with a stroke of the pen. “, he commented.
“May my name not be erased from history”
This ugetista has also remembered one of the last phrases uttered by Julia Conesawho went down in history for being one of the 13 Roses: “May my name not be erased from history,” she wrote in her chapel letter, before being shot. Muñoz responded: “That was one of the messages that was going to appear on the memorial. And how right Julia was, because as we well know, especially women, what is not named does not exist.” Afterwards, the UGT activist recalled some names of colleagues who were shot almost a century ago in the same place where she found herself this morning.
The interventions were enlivened with musical pieces by David Ortizthe next turn has been for Ramon Silvamember of PSOE in Madrid: “Five years ago they turned this memorial into a forgotten memorial. They removed their names saying that there were among them chekistsbut absolutely all of them were victims of unfair trials, statements under torture and they deserve their name to be remembered.”
“We do not forget or forgive these crimes that still enjoy impunity”
Elena Perez has taken the floor on behalf of the PCE of Madridwho has criticized that “Franco’s machinery has continued to function in democracy with a pact of silence by which a forgetfulness of the dictatorship and its impunity is established.” “We do not forget or forgive these crimes that still enjoy impunity,” the communist reiterated. Likewise, he has denounced the attempt by the right to “confuse victims and executioners.”
On the part of the Association of Prisoners and Retaliators for Francoism The Commune has spoken Pazo Romero. She has focused on the “specific violence that women receive for being women.” “We suffered it in the 40 years of dictatorship and we continue to do so now,” he expressed. For this reason, this activist for memory has invited those present to participate in the demonstration that this November 25 will tour the center of Madrid.
“Truth, justice and reparation”
Next, Ivan Perez has underlined the importance of giving a dignified space at a social level to those retaliated by Franco’s regime. Member of the Dignified Streets collectivehas emphasized the pressing need for the victims of the dictatorship to receive the “truth, justice and reparation” they deserve.
“There is no democracy without memory”
At the end, those gathered observed a minute of silence, some of them with the raised fistin memory of the victims of Franco’s regime that concluded with the cry of “There is no democracy without memory” and “we must judge criminal Francoism.”
Later, and closing this day of fight for memory, the nonagenarian Distress He has taken the microphone to delight those present with his verses. This is how they ended: “Repression, violence or fear should not intimidate us / cowardice has never given a people dignity. I want another world / will you join me in the fight?”
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