The activist and ex-prisoner of the Franco regime José María ‘Chato’ Galante (Madrid, 1948) died on Saturday night affected by the coronavirus, as confirmed by his friends and colleagues in his profile Twitter.
Galante was a member of the association of ex-political prisoners La Comuna, Presxs of Francoism, which fought against the crimes perpetrated during the Franco dictatorship. He was a member of the Revolutionary Communist League during his youth. At the age of 20, he was detained, tortured and imprisoned for four years for participating in student protests.
In 2018, Galante filed a complaint against ‘Billy the Child’, for the alleged crime against humanity for the torture he carried out. That same year, his testimony, like that of so many other victims of Francoism, was portrayed in the documentary ‘El silencio de los otros’, by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar .
“All his companions are broken, but we will continue in this fight. He was essential. That his work was not in vain,” his friends wrote on Sunday on his social networks. .
Dear friends. Unfortunately, Chato Galante has passed away tonight. All of our classmates are devastated, but we will continue in this fight. He was a must. That his work was not in vain.
– Chato Galante (@chato_galante) March 29, 2020
The general secretary of Podemos and second vice president of the Government, Pablo Iglesias, has also regretted his death on social networks.
“COVID-19 has taken Chato Gallant, freedom fighter, political prisoner of the dictatorship, fighter for universal justice and against torturers, one of Brecht’s essentials. It breaks my soul. Until always, companion, “he has written.
COVID-19 has taken Chato Galante, freedom fighter, political prisoner of the dictatorship, fighter for justice universal and against torturers, one of Brecht’s must-haves. My soul breaks. Goodbye companion ✊
– Pablo Iglesias 🔻 (@PabloIglesias) March 29, 2020
The Minister for Equality, Irene Montero, stressed that Galante did not stop “a single day of putting the body in the fight for life”. “This is how we will tell our children,” he added.
Chato Galante has left us. Dear companion, here you are still together with so many that we will not forget that we are thanks to people like you, who did not stop a single day of putting your body into the fight for life. So we will tell our children. Until always ✊🏼
– Irene Montero (@IreneMontero) March 29, 2020
For his part, the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzón, has conveyed the condolences of his entire party, Izquierda Unida, to those close to Galante, whom he has defined as “an indefatigable fighter against impunity for those responsible for the Francoist repression. “
From Izquierda Unida we want to give our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Chato Galante, anti-Franco fighter, political prisoner and tireless fighter against impunity for those responsible for the Francoist repression. May you rest in peace @ chato_galante
– Alberto Garzón🔻 (@agarzon) March 29, 2020
Outside the world of politics, actor Juan Diego Botto He has also conveyed his condolences via Twitter. “An immense human being is gone, a tireless fighter, an essential in the fight against impunity,” Botto said. “We will not forget you and we will follow your example to make this a better world for all the living beings that inhabit it,” said Ecologistas en Acción, an organization in which Galante militated.
An immense human being is gone, a tireless fighter, an essential in the fight against impunity. His affection, his sensitivity, his light will always accompany us. Let the earth be light for you, Chato. https://t.co/60nHlqEmWV
– Juan Diego Botto (@JuanDiegoBotto) March 29, 2020
Flat, rest in peace, we will not forget you and we will follow your example to make this a better world for all living beings that inhabit it. https://t.co/BtbJnbUC3a pic.twitter.com/l5ZsRLIVsh
— Ecologists in Action (@ecologists) March 29, 2020
