Maricarmen Abascal, the 87 year old woman whose eviction sparked housing protests in Spaindied today at the Gregorio Marañón hospital in Madrid. This was confirmed by a statement from the Tenants’ Union. It was on September 23rd evicted from her home in Retiro, where she had lived for seventy years.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of Maricarmen, which occurred today”, reads the statement also signed by her family and her lawyer, which recalls that Maricarmen had remained hospitalized since the eviction. “Although a historic agreement had been reached that would have allowed her to return home, this solution came too late”, complain the signatories noting that what happened after his eviction, mass demonstrations, encampments in public squares, early elections and the call for a general strike, represents “a turning point in the history of this country”. “The price to pay to get to this point was far too high” they underline, however, concluding with the appeal that she repeatedly addressed to them: “Fight, continue to fight for what is yours”.
The dramatic video of the eviction
What sparked the protest in Madrid, which then spread throughout the country, was a video, relaunched by the Daily Mail, which showed the raid of the riot police in the elderly lady’s apartment. The woman had barricaded the door with furniture in a desperate attempt to resist.
The rent of the house, purchased in 2018 from a real estate company, should have increased by 275% (from around 440 to 1,650 euros per month). The case has sparked strong controversy and protests in Spain. Supporters and Amnesty International denounced a “violation of human rights”, criticizing the use of force and the mere 30 minutes given to the elderly woman, in a wheelchair, to leave the house before being taken to hospital.
Anti-eviction protests across the country
In recent days, tens of thousands of people have marched through the streets of Madrid and throughout the country to protest against the eviction, demanding greater protection for tenants. Demonstrators marched through city streets, waving keys and whistles to demand measures to curb rising housing costs and make evictions more difficult.”You could be the next Maricarmen” they chanted in chorus in the processions that crossed Spain for days.