The proposal Perpignan, Dignity, and Memory, developed by Núria Ricart and Jordi Guixé to dignify the mass grave at the West Cemetery of Perpignan, will be presented on February 21, 2025, in the framework of the third annual Commemoration and Tribute to the Republican Refugees in the West Cemetery of Perpignan (1939–1942).
This annual gathering promoted by the historians Jordi Oliva, Martí Picas i Sala, and Noemí Ruidor honors the memory of the victims of forced exile, internment camps, and the Republican retreat following the end of the Spanish Civil War while advocating for the dignification of this historic site.
The tribute and remembrance ceremony will take place on February 22, at 11:00 AM, in front of the monolith dedicated to President Companys at the West Cemetery of Perpignan.
Background
The mass grave of Perpignan is a historically forgotten and neglected space that holds the remains of 841 individuals—victims of forced exile, internment camps, and the Republican retreat following the end of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Through historical research conducted by Jordi Oliva, Martí Picas i Sala, and Noemí Ruidor, in collaboration with citizen organizations in Roussillon, the identities of these individuals have been recovered. This work has sparked a movement to transform the site into a place of dignity and remembrance. Currently, the grave lies in deplorable conditions, with no identifying elements to explain its historical significance.
The proposal by Núria Ricart and Jordi Guixé (EUROM – University of Barcelona) is part of the broader project Patrimonios – Uncomfortable Memories. Dissonant Heritage”, and aims to foster a meaningful dialogue to dignify the mass grave at the West Cemetery of Perpignan, transforming it into a space of collective and democratic memory.
Related Project
Uncomfortable Heritage, Dissonant Memories. The West Cementery Memorial of Perpignan