Spain commemorates Civil War atrocities on July 18 and 20

July 18 marks the 90th anniversary of the 1936 National uprising that sparked the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent Francoist regime. Historians emphasize the need to remember the antifascist resistance that opposed the coup and the ensuing conflict that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

July 20 is being advocated as an official "Day of Galician Xenocide" to honour the victims of a mass shooting and broader repression in Vigo, where a military squad opened fire on workers defending the Republic, killing 16‑year‑old Lenin Moreda. The proposal calls for state recognition of the systematic killings, torture, and forced disappearances that occurred in Galicia during the war.

Both commemorations seek to preserve historical memory, demand justice for the victims, and counter attempts to erase the atrocities of the Franco era.