Landlord evicts an 87-year old Spanish woman from her home of 70 years. The community pushes back

Beatriz Duro, who is acting as Abascal’s attorney, called the eviction “completely disproportionate and unnecessary.”

An escalating situation

That initial protest was just a warmup, though. The following day, tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid to protest the eviction, with many carrying signs. After the march concluded, some protestors staged a sit-in at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol plaza, staying there through Sunday morning.

Abascal has become something of a poster child for a growing housing crisis in the country, where affordable housing is becoming rare and rents have increased dramatically in recent months and years. The 87-year old’s apartment building was acquired eight years ago by an investment fund, and Abascal has been fighting eviction for more than five years, the Madrid tenants union says.

A court filing is pending, but the owners of the building chose to proceed with carrying out the eviction, which increased tensions over the situation. Duro said the landlord has refused to sign a new lease for Abascal, even after an anonymous person offered to cover the rent payments.

Abascal has thanked her supporters and had harsh words for the investment fund owners.

“They’re all inhumane,” Abascal said the day before her eviction. “It’s as if I’m living with a machete at the back of my neck, ready to be chopped off at any moment.”