Thousands of people participate in the April 25th demonstration in Valencia
Acció Cultural claims an alternative "to the Spanish framework and the far right" where "language is the fundamental pillar"
ValenciaThousands of people marched this Saturday in Valencia, convened by Acció Cultural del País Valencià (ACPV) and under the slogan "Faced with aggressions, we are the strength of the country," in the traditional commemoration of the April 25th diada, which recalls the defeat of Archduke Charles of Austria's troops by Philip V's army in 1707. The demonstration featured the novelty of the arrival in Valencia of the Correllengua Agermanat, which added a celebratory tone to the march.
The demonstration welcomed representatives from all parties to the left of the PSPV, such as Compromís, Esquerra Unida, Esquerra Republicana del País Valencià, Podem, and Sumar. In this regard, Anna Oliver, president of ACPV, highlighted the need for progressive sectors to build a Valencian alternative "to the Spanish framework and the far-right" and for "language to be its fundamental pillar." An objective that she stressed will not be achieved until the "epic" is overcome and "solid structures capable of making proposals on language, culture, Valencian civil law, and financing" are raised.
Tributes to Izaskun Arretxe and the Union of Valencian Journalists
Tributes to Izaskun Arretxe and the Union of Valencian Journalists
Although the highlight of the day was the demonstration, in the morning the Botanical Garden of Valencia hosted the first events of the festival with the celebration of the second edition of the 25th of April awards, presented by Acció Cultural del País Valencià. The ceremony served to recognize the career of the cultural manager and current director of the literature department of the Institut Ramon Llull, Izaskun Arretxe, and the collective work of the Unió de Periodistes Valencians "in defense of plural and rigorous information".
Arretxe thanked for the award and highlighted the importance of the social fabric. "Many times we forget the power of associations, of entities, of small organizations, of bookstores, of libraries, of people who decide they want to do things, not because they have to do them, but because they want to do them," she emphasized. For his part, Vicent Marco, president of the Unió de Periodistes Valencians, called for "critical journalism in Valencian" that is "alongside citizens".
