Confronting Bodies: Spanish government under Francisco Franco, assassination ordered by Ramon Ruiz Alonso
Date of Action: 1936, 1944, 1945
Specific Location: Spain
Description of Artwork: Garcia Lorca is one of the premier literary figures, not only in Spain, but throughout the world. His work consists of various novels, short stories, and poetry as well as painting and drawing.
Description of Incident: On August 19, 1936, Lorca was beaten and assassinated. Though it is known that the order was given by Ramon Ruiz Alonso, under whose command he was acting remains a mystery. He was accused of subversive activity, however evidence today suggests that it was a hate crime in response to his homosexuality. His works were anti-fascist and seen as obscene by the fascist party and Franco. He also became a martyr and a symbol of resistance for the Republican cause. His work was largely censored during the years that Franco was in power. In 1944 a production in the Canary Islands of the play "Bodas de Sangre" (Blood Wedding) was not permitted and the following year proposed production of one of Lorca's other plays was prohibited for fear of "public disturbance". His books were printed in Spanish only outside of Spain, in Argentina and the United States. As time went on however, even Franco and the fascists came to be more accepting of Lorca's work and some private performances of his plays were permitted.
Results of Incident: His entire body of work remained censored until Franco's death in 1975. This did not, however, prevent him from becoming one of the most widely read writers in the world.
Source: Kiki Haralambides
Submitted By: NCAC