Civic, cultural and political groups gathered yesterday afternoon on the esplanade of the Torrent auditorium (Valencia) to condemn the "shameful" and "insulting" decision of the new government team of this municipality (PP-Vox) to withdraw the name of the founder of the Al Tall group, Vicent Torrent, of the name of the cultural center.
The protest, organized by Cultural Action of the Valencian Country (ACPV) and the Ovidi Montllor Collective, was joined by, among other organizations, Valencian School, Platform for the Language and El Micalet Choral Society, and the Compromís-Podem municipal group - United Left
The act was presented by Toni Gisbert, coordinator of ACPV and Pau Alabajos, secretary of the Ovidi Montllor Collective, who lamented that the decision of the new local government "has outraged the cultural world of Torrent, in particular, and of the Valencian Country in general" and also evidences "the radical, extremist character and contrary to dialogue, consensus and Valencian culture" of the new Valencian government.
Members of Compromís such as Joan Baldoví and Mónica Álvaro also participated, carrying a banner that read "Ni un pas enrere" (Not one step back).
In addition, a banner was spread that said "Prou de censorship, visca la cultura" (enough with censorship, long live culture) from Podem, IU and Compromís.
Vicent Torrent, they recalled, is a prestigious and respected musician, an innovator of Valencian popular music and a scholar of this tradition, who has collected the most important sound archive in the Valencian Community.
The musician, defended the organizers of the protest, "carries the last name of the town where he was born and in attention to the fact that he is a "well-known and recognized son of the city" and in recognition of his recovery, modernization, dissemination and dignifying Valencian popular music, the previous municipal corporation decided to put its name on the Auditorium.
They also demanded a rectification of this "censorship" and asked that the auditorium keep the name of an "illustrious son" of the town, a recognized and well-known artist who projects the city to the rest of the Community and the world. And they warned: "radicalism against culture is the wrong way."
The municipal group of Compromís-Podem-Esquerra Unida joined the protest, which regretted the "unilateral" decision of the PP government and Vox to remove the name of Vicent Torrent from the auditorium, and expressed its "unconditional support for the musician and the person who for so many years has expressed his appreciation for our culture, our language, and ultimately our right to exist peacefully as the Valencian people".
The mayoress of Torrent, Amparo Folgado (PP), also spoke about the concentration called this Wednesday and was pleased that "finally" the musician Vicent Torrent came to visit the room that has taken his name, "which only responded to the requirements that the PSOE had to meet to become mayor in 2015".
The Consell Valencià de Cultura (CVC), of which the musician is a member, agreed on a joint statement on Monday in which it regretted the facts, and warned that this type of decision "distances us from the common objective of building a society and a Valencian culture where all citizens have a place".
