Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year old woman evicted from her home of 70 years and became a symbol for protestors, has died

Abascal was taken out of the building in the city’s Retiro neighborhood, located in the southeastern part of the city, on Sept. 23 and driven away in an ambulance. Days later, supporters gathered outside of the building to protest the action, which resulted in dozens of police officers responding to prevent them from keeping the eviction from proceeding. The following day, tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid to protest the eviction, many carrying signs.

Her eviction became a rallying point for people angry about the country’s housing crisis and Abascal became a symbol of the problem.

Hundreds of protestors have been camped in Puerta del Sol, Madrid’s most famous square, for over two weeks and have shown no intention to clear out.

Increasing anger

News of Abascal’s passing emerged Wednesday evening. And sadness wasn’t the only emotion evoked in those protestors.

“This is not an eviction, this is murder,” demonstrators chanted.

Abascal’s eviction came despite a pending court filing. Duro said the landlord has refused to sign a new lease for Abascal, even after an anonymous person offered to cover the rent payments.

The coverage of Abascal’s eviction and the reaction it provoked from people in Madrid forced Urbagestión, the investment fund that bought the building, to rethink its decision.

Just over a week ago, the company reached an agreement with Duro that would have seen Abascal’s rent returned to the rate she had been paying for years. Her rent had previously jumped from 500 euros ($572) per month to as high as 2,650 euros (more than $3,000).