The King and Queen presided this Tuesday, at the Madrid Auditorium, at the "In Memoriam" concert for the victims of terrorism, which has been held for twenty-one years and which, since 2005, has been convened to coincide with the anniversary of 11-M, date marked in red by the attacks perpetrated in Madrid on March 11, 2004, in which 193 people died. The concert, organized by the Victims of Terrorism Foundation, was attended by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska and representatives of State institutions, as well as heads of the various associations, integrated into the Foundation, which bring together victims of terrorism and relatives of the deceased.
The entrance of the Kings to the auditorium was accompanied by the interpretation of the national anthem and before the start of the concert, Tomás Caballero, president of the Fundación Víctimas del Terrorismo, once again demanded the "cessation of tributes and recognition to terrorists", as well as the prosecution of the organizers. Caballero has also advocated delegitimizing violence and not relativizing "any form of terrorism", while recalling the latest crime for "terrorist purposes" that took place on January 25 and in which the sacristan Diego Valencia died in a church in Algeciras (Cadiz). At the end of his words, those attending the concert have observed a minute of silence.
On this occasion, the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Choir, the Antara Korai Vocal Group, Pinchas Steinberg, as conductor; Sonia de Munck, soprano; Carlos Mena, tenor; and Javier Franco, baritone, have performed the work Carmina Burana, by Carl Orff.
The objective of the Victims of Terrorism Foundation is to promote and disseminate democratic values, the defense of human rights, plurality and the freedom of citizens and, at the same time, to be a useful consultation vehicle for a better understanding of the situation. of the group of victims of terrorism in Spain.
Felipe and Letizia, whose first official appearance as engaged was precisely at the funeral for the victims of 11-M, received several victims' associations the day after the proclamation of Felipe VI; It was their first act as Kings to honor the memory of the deceased and show their solidarity with their families and victims who saved their lives.
On June 1, 2021, the King and Queen attended in Vitoria, together with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the inauguration of the Memorial Center for the Victims of Terrorism, whose board of trustees Felipe VI is president. That day, the King affirmed that the victims are "one of the ethical pillars" of democracy and, together with the law, represent a fundamental element to avoid "any legitimization or justification of terrorism" and that the pain is not repeated caused. "Memory is essential to preserve truth, dignity and justice"
