The assassination of Francisco Tomás y Valiente, a prominent jurist and former president of Spain's Constitutional Tribunal, occurred on February 14, 1996, when he was shot in his office at the Autonomous University of Madrid by an ETA member. This event transpired during a particularly violent period marked by ETA's 'socialization of suffering' campaign, which aimed to instill fear within Spanish society. In response to this brutal act, a significant uprising emerged within the University of Madrid, which resonated throughout student bodies across Spain. The outrage led to the largest public demonstration in Madrid since the events of February 23, 1981, further solidifying a collective stand against the terrorist group's violent methods. The mobilization against ETA following Tomás y Valiente's assassination set a precedent for civic activism in Spain, as it not only galvanized support against terrorism but also provided a model for future protests, notably the mass mobilization that occurred a year later in response to the assassination of Miguel Ángel Blanco, a local councilor from the People's Party. Historians and experts agree that the events of 1996 played a crucial role in framing public discourse around ETA and terrorism, shifting the narrative towards one of organized resistance against violence. This 30th anniversary serves as a reminder of the struggles against terrorism that marked the late 20th century in Spain, highlighting how influential figures like Tomás y Valiente and powerful public responses to violence can influence national policy and community solidarity. It underscores the importance of historical memory in shaping modern understanding of political violence and public response to it.