The Alcobendas City Council has announced that it will double the annual grant to associations for victims of terrorism in 2027 during the tribute to Miguel Ángel Blanco, on the 29th anniversary of his assassination.
The Victims of Terrorism Park in Alcobendas was the venue on July 8 for an institutional event that brought together authorities, representatives of associations, and families of people murdered by ETA. The event served to commemorate the twenty-ninth anniversary of the kidnapping and murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco, a PP councillor in Ermua, and to announce new support measures for victims in the municipality.
The Mayor of Alcobendas, Rocío García Alcántara, presided over the tribute and took the opportunity to announce that the City Council will double the budget allocated to associations for victims of terrorism in 2027. Additionally, she confirmed that the town will host the exhibition “The Voice of the White Hands”, focused on the legacy of the Spirit of Ermua and the citizen mobilisations that arose after the councillor's kidnapping.
A Tribute with the Presence of Historical Family Members
Among the attendees who spoke at the event were Marimar Blanco Garrido, president of the Miguel Ángel Blanco Foundation and sister of the murdered councillor, and Teresa Jiménez-Becerril, first deputy to the Ombudsman and sister of Alberto Jiménez-Becerril, a PP councillor murdered by ETA along with his wife. Both participated in the reading of a manifesto and in the floral tribute that concluded the ceremony.
The mayor thanked them for their presence and described them as “an example of the defence of the memory of the victims of terrorism”. She also remembered all the victims of the gang in a minute of silence that preceded the speeches.
The Anniversary Motto: “Your Legacy Commits Us”
The Miguel Ángel Blanco Foundation has chosen the motto “Your Legacy Commits Us” for this 29th anniversary. During the event, Marimar Blanco read the official manifesto, which recalls the massive demonstrations—over two million people—that followed her brother's kidnapping and gave rise to the so-called Spirit of Ermua.
“This legacy commits us to preserve the truth about the events that occurred during decades of terrorism and to convey to new generations what happened to prevent forgetfulness from favouring interpretations distant from the facts,” the text stated.
The manifesto emphasises the obligation to keep the memory of the victims alive and to fight against historical revisionism. In this sense, the exhibition planned for 2027 aims to be an educational tool for the residents of Alcobendas and for local educational centres.
Music and Floral Tribute to Conclude the Event
The ceremony concluded with a floral tribute at the Monument to the Victims of Terrorism, which was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Victims of the Community of Madrid, Carmen Martín García-Matos, and the Deputy Director General of Management and Support for the Government Commissioner for Attention to Victims of Terrorism, Sonia Ramos Piñeiro, among other authorities.
The musical accompaniment was provided by teachers from the Municipal School of Music and Dance of Alcobendas, who performed Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen; Nina by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi; and Els Cants dels Ocells. The combination of classical and contemporary pieces added an emotional tone to a day that, despite the seriousness of the anniversary, looked to the future with the announcement of new aid.
For the residents of Alcobendas, the increase in the grant represents a reinforcement of the municipal commitment to the associations that work in defence of the rights of the victims. The exhibition planned for 2027 is shaping up to be a major cultural and educational event on the local calendar.
