The end of the Exposition triggered a cruel crisis leaving workers unemployed. Given their inability to play the city’s abusive rent prices, workers ended up evicted from their homes, resulting in a revolt in working-class neighbourhoods.
Barcelona, 1931, the year when thousands of working-class families stopped paying their rent. Barcelona saw the mass arrival of manual labour for the 1929 International Exposition. The city’s population doubled, leading to a housing shortage. The end of the Exposition triggered a cruel crisis leaving workers unemployed. Given their inability to play the city’s abusive rent prices, workers ended up evicted from their homes, resulting in a revolt in working-class neighbourhoods. This was the first time in its history that Barcelona experienced protests for decent housing conditions. These events are now depicted in a comic book entitled Rebel·lió: La vaga de lloguers del 1931, written by Francisco Sánchez and illustrated by Ana Sainz «Anapurna», a volume published by Barcelona City Council and the second in its «Barcelona, Memòria en Vinyetes» collection.
The authors will be presenting the comic book on 20 March, at 6 pm, at the Biblioteca Francesc Candel (C/ Amnistia Internacional, 10), along with the Councillor for Democratic Memory, Jordi Rabassa, and the Sants-Montjuïc District Councillor, Marc Serra. Also taking part will be Pepe Gálvez, the script-writer, critic and world-of-comics theorist.
Unveiling of the commemorative information panel
Before the presentation, the «La vaga de lloguers del 1931 a les Cases barates» information panel will be officially unveiled, at 5 pm, at the chamfer between C/ Pontils and C/ Tortosa, to pay homage to the striking, solidarity and emancipation movement.
