Gladys del Estal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladys del Estal Ferreño
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| Born |
Gladys del Estal Ferreño
1956 |
| Died | 3 June 1979 (aged 23) Tudela, Navarre
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| Citizenship | Spanish |
| Occupation | Software programmer, ecologist |
| Known for | Activism, death |
Gladys del Estal Ferreño was a young environmentalist and activist from San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1956 and sadly died in Tudela in 1979. Gladys became a well-known symbol for the environmental movement after she was killed during a protest. This protest was against building nuclear power plants in the Basque Country and against an aircraft firing range in Bardenas.
About Gladys
Gladys del Estal Ferreño was born in Venezuela. Her parents were Spanish and had moved there during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Her father was Enrique del Estal Añorga, and her mother was Eugenia Ferreño. Later, her family moved back to Spain and settled in Egia, San Sebastian.
Gladys went to Colegio Presentación de María for her early education. She also studied Administration at the Centro Cultural Femenino Nazaret. In 1978, she finished her studies in Computer Science at the University of the Basque Country. After that, she worked as a programmer for a small computer company.
Her Last Protest
On June 3, 1979, a large protest took place in Tudela. This protest was organized by the anti-nuclear movement. It also included people protesting against the Bardenas aircraft firing range. About 4,000 people joined the march.
The Civil Guard was present and charged at the marchers. As people tried to leave, some decided to sit down on a bridge to protest against the actions of the police. Gladys was among them. A group of Civil Guard officers approached them. One officer, holding an automatic rifle, shot Gladys in the back of the head. She died right away.
The officer who fired the shot was later judged. In December 1981, he received a sentence of 18 months in prison. The court in Pamplona decided that his action was 'unintended'. Later, under Spanish leader Felipe González, the officer was given the Cross of Military Merit.
Remembering Gladys
One year after Gladys's death, a memorial was put up where she was killed. It said Gladys gogoan zaitugu, which means "Gladys we hold you in our memory" in Basque. However, the Civil Guard later removed it.
People held a demonstration where they chanted slogans against the power company Iberduero and the police. The organizers also placed a Basque flag with a black ribbon.
Today, there is a memorial for Gladys in the Cristina Enea Park in Donostia (San Sebastián). Many years after her death, a special tribute event was held at this memorial site.
Images for kids
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Funeral in Donostia-San Sebastián, attended by many citizens (1979)
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See also
In Spanish: Gladys del Estal para niños
