Video: Protests Flare in Spain After Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman
Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid and camped overnight in Puerta del Sol plaza to protest Spain's housing crisis. The demonstrations followed the forced eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, a disabled 87-year-old woman who lived in her home for 71 years. Protesters are demanding anti-fraud measures, tenant protections, and a ban on evictions that do not provide alternative housing. Police responded to the unrest using teargas. Abascal has since urged other Spaniards to fight to avoid a similar fate.
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- ✓ Maricarmen Abascal, a disabled 87-year-old woman, was forcibly evicted from her home of 71 years.
- ✓ Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid to protest the eviction and the national housing crisis.
- ✓ Police used teargas on protesters during the demonstrations.
- ✓ Protesters camped overnight in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol plaza.
What changed
Protesters established an overnight encampment in Puerta del Sol plaza, extending demonstrations into a second day.
Live updates
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Madrid Protests Erupt After Forced Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman
Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid and camped overnight in Puerta del Sol plaza to protest Spain's housing crisis. The demonstrations followed the forced eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, a disabled 87-year-old woman who lived in her home for 71 years. Protesters are demanding anti-fraud measures, tenant protections, and a ban on evictions that do not provide alternative housing. Police responded to the unrest using teargas. Abascal has since urged other Spaniards to fight to avoid a similar fate.
Why it matters
The incident has become a rallying cry for those affected by Spain's broader housing crisis. The scale of the protests includes multigenerational families highlighting systemic instability in tenant rights.
What is confirmed
- Maricarmen Abascal, a disabled 87-year-old woman, was forcibly evicted from her home of 71 years.
- Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid to protest the eviction and the national housing crisis.
- Police used teargas on protesters during the demonstrations.
- Protesters camped overnight in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol plaza.
- Demonstrators are calling for a ban on evictions without alternative housing and for tenant protections.
What to watch next
- Government response to demands for a ban on evictions without alternative housing
- Legal challenges or appeals regarding the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (18)
- The Guardian — Police use teargas on protesters as disabled woman, 87, evicted from Madrid home
- Reuters — Dramatic eviction of 87-year-old Madrid tenant spotlights Spain's housing crisis
- dw.com — Eviction of 87-year-old woman sparks housing protests in Madrid
- Euronews.com — Spain: Protests after 87-year-old woman evicted from home by force
- The New York Times — Forced Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman Spurs Outrage in Spain
- The New York Times — Video: Protests Flare in Spain After Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman
- People.com — 87-Year-Old Woman Evicted from Her Home of 71 Years: ‘I Don’t Want to Leave’
- The Times — Spaniards take to the street over eviction of 87-year-old
- english.elpais.com — Maricarmen: Eviction of elderly woman in Madrid sparks social and political outrage
- The New York Times — 87-Year-Old Evicted From Her Home Tells Spaniards to ‘Fight’ to Avoid Same Fate
- www.newsday.com — 87-year-old's eviction becomes a rallying cry for protest of Spain's housing crisis
- www.daytondailynews.com — Eviction of 87-year-old sparks encampment protest in Madrid over housing crisis
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