“A Josep Maria Planes i Martì journalist committed to freedom and Catalonia murdered by a squad of uncontrolled individuals at Rabassada for defending the truth”. These words etched into the steel of this plaque before us tell a powerful story. This is the Homenatge Any Josep Maria Planes i Martì a memorial dedicated to a courageous journalist.
Josep Maria Planes a native of Manresa was a pioneer of investigative journalism in Catalonia. His career began in local publications. By 1929 he was writing for prestigious publications like La Nau Mirador and La Publicitat. He even directed the satirical weekly El Be Negre. Planes wasn’t just a journalist he was a writer and playwright.
Planes’ most notable works include Nits de Barcelona and Gangsters de Barcelona. In Gangsters de Barcelona a series of articles he fearlessly exposed the links between the Iberian Anarchist Federation FAI and criminal gangs. This investigative journalism made him enemies. His reporting on the murder of the Badia brothers who had fought against the FAI’s violence directly implicated Justo Bueno Perez.
The year 1936 was a time of great turmoil. During the Spanish Civil War Planes was found in a flat on Carrer de Muntaner in Barcelona. Poet Mercè Devesa a friend of Josep Maria de Sagarra had given him refuge. An FAI squad captured him. They took him to the road to Arrabassada and shot him seven times. His friend Avel·lí Artís-Gener identified his body.
Planes’ legacy lives on. His unflinching commitment to truth cost him his life. The Homenatge Any Josep Maria Planes i Martì stands as a testament to his bravery. It reminds us of the importance of journalistic integrity. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by those who dare to speak truth to power. His final published words “Anyone not decisively on the Generalitat’s side in these grave hours is a traitor. A traitor we will hold accountable. Now more than ever Long live Catalonia Long live the Republic” echo his unwavering commitment to his beliefs even in the face of death. Let’s reflect on his sacrifice. Let us honor his courage. Let us remember Josep Maria Planes.