In a moving tribute, A Coruña City Hall has awarded the title of "adopted sons of the city" to two Senegalese migrants, Ibrahima Diack and Magatte N'Diaye, for their courageous intervention during a homophobic attack that resulted in the death of a young gay man, Samuel Luiz. The formal recognition took place during a ceremony on Monday, officially acknowledging the risks the men faced when they attempted to save Luiz from a violent mob in July 2021.
The horrifying incident sparked widespread outrage across Spain after Luiz was brutally assaulted by a group outside a nightclub, ultimately leading to his death in the hospital. Mayor Inés Rey lauded the men for their "pure heroism," pointing out that, despite the presence of other onlookers who merely recorded the attack on their phones, Diack and N'Diaye were the only individuals who intervened to help. The mayor emphasized the gravity of the situation, reflecting on the notable fact that two undocumented migrants risked their safety to oppose such brutality.
During the ceremony, both Diack and N'Diaye expressed a sense of humility regarding their actions, asserting they did not consider themselves heroes but rather felt compelled to act in accordance with their values. Diack stated, "I was born in a family that doesn't have much... but they gave me many things more valuable than money. They gave me respect, education and above all, values." The recognition included the presentation of plaques signifying their honorary status.
Their involvement did not end at the attack; both men played a crucial role as witnesses in the subsequent trial of Luiz's attackers, where four individuals were convicted of murder and received prison sentences ranging from ten to twenty-four years. The trial revealed that the principal assailant had called out homophobic slurs during the attack.
Spain continues to grapple with issues of migration and homophobia, as tens of thousands of migrants annually make perilous journeys across the Atlantic to reach its shores. The acts of Diack and N'Diaye stand as a testament to human compassion in the face of prejudice and violence.
The horrifying incident sparked widespread outrage across Spain after Luiz was brutally assaulted by a group outside a nightclub, ultimately leading to his death in the hospital. Mayor Inés Rey lauded the men for their "pure heroism," pointing out that, despite the presence of other onlookers who merely recorded the attack on their phones, Diack and N'Diaye were the only individuals who intervened to help. The mayor emphasized the gravity of the situation, reflecting on the notable fact that two undocumented migrants risked their safety to oppose such brutality.
During the ceremony, both Diack and N'Diaye expressed a sense of humility regarding their actions, asserting they did not consider themselves heroes but rather felt compelled to act in accordance with their values. Diack stated, "I was born in a family that doesn't have much... but they gave me many things more valuable than money. They gave me respect, education and above all, values." The recognition included the presentation of plaques signifying their honorary status.
Their involvement did not end at the attack; both men played a crucial role as witnesses in the subsequent trial of Luiz's attackers, where four individuals were convicted of murder and received prison sentences ranging from ten to twenty-four years. The trial revealed that the principal assailant had called out homophobic slurs during the attack.
Spain continues to grapple with issues of migration and homophobia, as tens of thousands of migrants annually make perilous journeys across the Atlantic to reach its shores. The acts of Diack and N'Diaye stand as a testament to human compassion in the face of prejudice and violence.
