The group of research in Recent History (GIHRE) of the University of Navarra held on February 4 a seminar on "School, anticlericalism and revolution: around Ferrer Guardia". The session was given by Juan Avilés, Full Professor of Contemporary History of the UNED and author, among other publications, of the biographical work 'Francisco Ferrer y Guardia. Pedagogue, anarchist and martyr'.

The expert gave the keys to the figure of this complex character and addressed what happened in the Tragic Week of Barcelona in 1909, issues that aroused his interest and to which he decided to devote his research since, in his opinion, in the Tragic Week of Barcelona "all the tensions of Spain in the early twentieth century are mixed: the Monarchy against the Republic, colonial adventures against anti-war, the Church against anticlericalism, international public opinion and the Spanish judicial system," among others.

Avilés pointed out that "Ferrer Guardia was basically a revolutionary, a man who moved between radical Republicanism and Anarchism" and, since 1992, one of the most important ideas for him was the idea of assassination as a way to Revolution. "Magnicide was the leitmotiv of his life," he indicated.

Ferrer founded the Modern School in Barcelona, "whose purpose was clearly revolutionary. His goal was to destroy the myths of religion, the state and property," said the professor. He also explained that the School was open for five years and had a great impact since "he set up a publishing house that published many textbooks for the School itself and managed to have several international contacts".

The Modern School was not the only activity Ferrer carried out in Barcelona. As Avilés pointed out, years later he launched a newspaper graduate 'La Huelga General', "which meant the entrance in Spain of the ideas of the French revolutionary Syndicalism", he concluded.