Aurora Picornell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aurora Picornell
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| Born |
Aurora Picornell Femenies
1 October 1912 |
| Died | 5 January 1937 (aged 24) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Politician and Trade unionist |
| Organization | International Red Aid |
| Known for | Leading communist |
| Political party | Communist Party of Spain |
Aurora Picornell (born October 1, 1912 – died January 5, 1937) was a brave Spanish woman who fought for workers' rights. She was a strong political activist and a skilled seamstress. People knew her as "La Pasionaria mallorquina" ("La Pasionaria of Majorca"). Aurora was a member of the Spanish Communist Party. Sadly, she was killed without a proper trial in 1937 by forces loyal to General Franco during a difficult time in Spain's history.
Life Story
Aurora Picornell was born in Palma, Majorca, on October 1, 1912. Her family lived in the El Molinar area. She was the sixth of seven children. From a young age, Aurora was interested in politics and making things fair for everyone.
Early Activism
At just 14 years old, Aurora left school to start working as a seamstress. Even as a teenager, she was a strong supporter of women's rights. She also questioned the role of the Roman Catholic church in society.
In 1931, when she was 19, Aurora helped create a union for seamstresses in the Balearic Islands. A union is a group of workers who join together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions. Later, she joined the Communist Party of Spain (PCE). She became one of the main leaders of the party in the Balearic Islands. When she was only 16, she started writing articles for the Communist newspaper Nuestra palabra ("Our Word").
Aurora lived for some time in Valencia. There, she married another communist activist named Heriberto Quinones.
Spanish Civil War
In 1934, Aurora helped set up the Communist Party on the island of Menorca. When the Spanish Civil War began, Majorca was taken over by the Francoist rebels. These were forces loyal to General Franco, who fought against the elected government.
Aurora Picornell was one of the first women arrested in the Casa del Poble ("House of the People"), which was the party's main office. She was put in a women's prison in Mallorca. Her friends tried to arrange a prisoner exchange to free her. However, before they could, she was taken by Falangists (another group supporting Franco) to a convent in Montuiri.
On January 5, 1937, Aurora was murdered at the cemetery in Porreres. This place is about 30 kilometers from Palma. She was killed along with other seamstresses: Catalina Flaquer Pascual, Antonia Pascual Flaquer, Maria Pascual Flaquer, and Belarmina Gonzalez Rodriguez. In Majorca, these women are remembered as Les Roges des Molinar ("The Reds of El Molinar").
During the Spanish Civil War, Aurora's father, two brothers, and her husband also died. Aurora had one daughter, named Octubrina Roja, whom she gave birth to at age 22.
Her Legacy
Aurora Picornell is still remembered today for her bravery and her fight for justice.
- Josep Articles Quetglas wrote a book about her writings called "Aurora Picornell, escrits 1930-1936."
- A school, IES Aurora Picornell, is named after her.
- A play based on her life was written by Aina de Cos.
- The metal band Helevorn wrote a song called 'Aurora' about her.
- She is also honored with a special walking path called a Woman's Trail in Mallorca.
Books About Aurora
Several books have been written about Aurora Picornell's life:
- Aurora Picornell (1912-1937). De la història, al símbol (2016) by David Ginard i Féron.
- Aurora Picornell. Feminismo, comunismo y memoria republicana en el siglo XX (2018) also by David Ginard i Féron.
See Also
In Spanish: Aurora Picornell para niños
