ALBA Turns Merriman Plaque Unveiling in Berkeley Into Multi-Event Weekend This November
Claude Potts and Donna Southard with the replica of the Catalan plaque, February 2025. Photo Richard Bermack.
The much-awaited unveiling of a plaque commemorating ALB Commander Robert Merriman this coming November 6 is accompanied by a slate of educational and other programs.
The monument at Corbera (Catalonia).
Berkeley Robert Merriman Plaque to be Unveiled in November
On November 6, the UC Berkeley campus will welcome dignitaries and ALBA community members to officially inaugurate the plaque dedicated to Robert Hale Merriman, commander of the Lincoln Battalion. Donated to the university by DIDPATRI, a research group at the University of Barcelona, the plaque is an exact replica of the one installed in Corbera d’Ebre, where Merriman is thought to have died during the retreats in the spring of 1938. A couple of months ago, the president of Catalonia, Salvador Illa took advantage of a visit to the Bay Area to pay a brief visit to the site where the plaque was being installed. If you’re interested in attending the ceremony on November 6, watch our channels for updates.
Berkeley Hosts Teacher Workshop
On the morning of Thursday, November 5, the day before the Merriman plaque unveiling, UC Berkeley will host a three-hour, in-person ALBA teacher workshop titled “The United States and World Fascism: Human Rights from the Spanish Civil War to Nuremberg and Beyond.” Co-sponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the session will be taught by Sebastiaan Faber. Local educators who are interested in joining may write to ALBA at info@alba-valb.org.
ALBA Roundtables and Screening in Berkeley
On the afternoon and evening of Saturday, November 7, the day after the Merriman plaque ceremonies, ALBA will host two roundtable discussions at the David Brower Center, off the UC Berkeley campus, on the rise of fascism and antifascist activism from a historical perspective. Joining the discussions will be representatives of this year’s recipients of the ALBA/Puffin Award. That same evening, ALBA will present a movie screening on the same theme. For details, keep an eye out for ALBA’s newsletter or consult our event calendar at alba-valb.org/eventcalendar.
