Around 20,000 take to the streets of Madrid after the death of an elderly woman who was evicted from her home

Protesters march from Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, where they have been camped for days, to the building where 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal lived, who died after being evicted. Her case sparked housing protests in Spain. — Photo: Susana Vera / Reuters

Around 20 thousand people participated this Thursday (8) in a demonstration in memory of Maricarmen Abascal, aged 87, in Madrid, Spain. The elderly woman died last Wednesday (7), two weeks after being evicted from the house where she had lived for 71 years.

The demonstration was organized by the Tenants Union and started at 8pm at Puerta del Sol, in the center of the Spanish capital. Flowers, candles and messages were left throughout the day at the location where protesters gathered.

The group headed towards Sainz de Baranda Street, where Maricarmen had lived since he was 17 years old. She was removed from the property on September 23, after the real estate company Urbagestión bought the building and started charging €2,650 in rent per month. Maricarmen received a pension of around €1,350.

After the eviction, she was admitted to the Gregorio Marañón Hospital. According to the Tenants Union, the hospitalization occurred after the wear and tear caused by the eviction process.

As they passed through Plaza de Cibeles, where the Madrid City Council is located, the protesters observed a minute of silence. The group also remembered the case of Olga, a woman who recently died after being taken from her home in L'Hospitalet, in the Barcelona region.

Posters displayed phrases such as "Rentism kills" and "Maricarmen we are all".

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The demonstration in Madrid was part of a series of events held this Thursday in other Spanish cities. There were rallies and vigils in Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Zaragoza and Seville, organized by groups advocating changes to housing policies.

During the event in Madrid, a wreath was placed in honor of Maricarmen. A banner said that she should be remembered in the fight for the right to housing.

The Tenants Union called a general strike for November 11th and also started to defend the advancement of the general elections.

Maricarmen's funeral march — Photo: Susana Vera / Reuters