Spanish Mayor of Granollers sets stage for peace manifesto

June 1, 2008

By Jaira Valenzuela Toledo

On Saturday 31th May 2008, Luc Dehaene (Mayor of Ypres), Pol Dhuyvetter and myself took part in Commemoration of the Bombardment of Granollers. The commemoration started in the cemetery at 9:05 am , exactly 70 years after the first bombs exploded in the city of Granollers. It was a moving ceremony where we learned that in 1938, in just one minute, 224 civilians died as the Italian air-force released 30 explosive bombs and 10 incendiary bombs in support of  the fascists troops of General Franco.

At noon the commemoration continued in the theatre of Granollers . The ceremony was conducted by Òscar Molina, and the chamber orchestra from Granollers and the chorio “Amics de la Unió” took part in the event. The theatre was completely packed as the Mayor of Granollers, Josep Mayoral i Antigas, welcomed all the participants.

The Mayor of Ypres; the Deputy Mayor of Guernica; the Mayor of Foligno (city that was bombarded during the 2nd War World because they built SAVOIA fighter planes, the same kind of planes that bombarded Granollers in 1938); Federico Mayor of Zaragoza and former General Director of UNESCO; and, the Mayor of Reus made a speech afterwards.

And finally, about 20 children appeared in the stage barefoot and dressed in white. Five of them placed themselves in the front of the stage and they pronounced the Manifesto signed for all the Mayors who participated. Afterwards, all the children began to sign a song for peace. This end was really touching.

After the commemoration, we were invited to have lunch by the City of Granollers. The meeting of Mayors for Peace took place during the coffee time; so, we had the opportunity of introducing the 2020 Vision Campaign to all the Mayors present.

Later, we met privately the Mayor of Vila-seca and President of Tarragona Deputació de Tarragona (County council of Tarragona)”, Josep M. Picollà I Crusat and the Mayor of Granollers. They signed the cross-party membership recruitment and fundraising letters. We also gave the letter to be signed by the Mayor of Guernica and Barcelona.

To download the Manifesto of Granollers press here.