Thousands Protest Following Death of Elderly Eviction Victim in Madrid
El Salto
- Over 20,000 people marched in Madrid to honor Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old who died following a violent eviction.
- Demonstrators protested against the housing crisis and the human cost of current rental practices.
- Organizers have called for nationwide workplace and campus silence on Friday to mark her passing.
The Incident
- Maricarmen Abascal died on October 7 after two weeks in the hospital.
- She had been the subject of three eviction attempts, culminating in a forced removal from her home on September 23 that involved police force currently under investigation.
- The Sindicato de Inquilinas de Madrid organized the memorial march from Puerta del Sol to her former home in the Retiro district.
Calls for Accountability
- Valeria Racu, spokesperson for the Sindicato de Inquilinas de Madrid, described the death as a consequence of systemic "rentismo" (predatory landlordism).
- Protesters explicitly blamed politicians, landlords, police, judges, and certain media outlets for prioritizing profit over human life.
Scheduled Actions
- A minute of silence is requested across all workplaces and study centers in Spain on Friday, October 9, at 12:00.
- A demonstration is planned for Friday at 19:00 in Barcelona at Plaza Universitat, organized by housing unions and the PAH.