As part of this commemoration, Barcelona City Council and the associations of the Municipal Council for the Roma People are holding an event to remember one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Roma people.

The ceremony is being held at the Convent de Sant Agustí community centre on Friday, 30 July, from 6 pm.

Commemorative information panel

A commemorative panel will be unveiled during the ceremony, in memory of the Roma people imprisoned during the Great Gypsy Round-up of 1749 in Barcelona, fulfilling an institutional declaration by Barcelona City Council’s Full Council on 28 July 2020.

The commemoration marks the events of the Great Gypsy Round-up, an attempt to exterminate the Roma people, and reaffirms the rights and the struggle against anti-Roma sentiment, explaining the history and culture of the gypsy people.

The Convent de Sant Agustí will also be remembering the past by unveiling the information panel, as this was the place where many imprisoned gypsy women were held in the city during the summer of 1749.

On-site and online ceremony

The ceremony will be attended by the Chair of the Municipal Council for the Roma People and the Councillor for Democratic Memory and the District of Ciutat Vella, Jordi Rabassa, along with the first vice-chair of the Municipal Council for the Roma People and chair of the Gràcia Roma Youth Association, Ricard Valentí.

The ceremony will also include the talk “The Great Gypsy Round-up. Baró Istardipè”, with a screening of the short film Baró Istardipè, by Seo Cizmich, with contributions from the writer and historian Manuel Martínez and the psychologist and psycho-social researcher Patricia Caro. The ceremony concludes with Cristóbal Laso, a noteworthy figure in the Roma community.

Anyone wishing to attend the ceremony, which has limited capacity,, must register in advance by sending an email to cmpgb@bcn.cat.

Please remember that face masks are obligatory and that safety and prevention measures must be respected.

The talk will also be streamed via the Barcelona City Council YouTube channel. You can follow the ceremony here

Programme

6 pm. Ceremony to unveil the information panel with the participation of chair of the Municipal Council for the Roma People and the Councillor for Democratic Memory and the District of Ciutat Vella, Jordi Rabassa.

6.30 pm. Talk “The Great Gypsy Round-up. Baró Istardipè”, Sala Calidoscopi.

Welcome and presentation by Ricard Valentí, first vice-chair of the Municipal Council for the Roma People and chair of the Gràcia Roma Youth Association, and Jordi Rabassa, chair of the Municipal Council for the Roma People and the Councillor for Democratic Memory and the District of Ciutat Vella.

6.40 pm. Presentation and screening of the short film Baró Istardipè, by its director Seo Cizmich.

7 pm. Presentation of speakers

7.05 pm. Talk with Manuel Martínez, writer and historian, who will be analysing the role of women in the Great Gypsy Round-up.

7.25 pm. Talks with Patricia Caro, psychologist and psycho-social researcher, who will be looking anti-Roma sentiment today.

7.45 pm. Questions and answers.

7.55 pm. The ceremony concludes with Cristóbal Laso, a noteworthy figure in the Roma community.