The murder of a young man who was beaten to death last weekend shocked Spain, and large demonstrations took place yesterday denouncing a “homophobic crime”.
Samuel, a 24-year-old nurse assistant, was found unconscious outside a nightclub in the city of La Coru .a in northwestern Spain after being beaten. Emergency services failed to resuscitate him and the young man died Saturday morning, according to Spanish media.
“Justice for Samuel. “Homophobia and fascism are the same thing,” read a giant banner of protesters who had gathered until late at night in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, according to the French agency’s television service.
Crowds of several thousand protesters, some of them waving Pride flags, responded to the call of many LGBT community groups demanding “Justice for Samuel”.
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“These are not beatings, these are murders,” the crowd shouted rhythmically. “Stop homophobia,” “All I want is to live,” or “They’re killing us,” some of the banners read.
Relatives of the young man denounce a homophobic crime, which occurred a few days after the end of Pride week in Spain, the celebrations of the LGBT community.
Demonstrations took place tonight in other Spanish cities, such as La Coru .a, with several hundred people participating in several cases, according to photos and videos posted on social media.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca said today that no arrests had been made so far and that “no scenario has been ruled out, neither the hate crime nor any other.”
“I am convinced that the police investigation will soon lead to the finding of the perpetrators of Samuel’s murder and will shed light on the facts. This was an act of barbarism, a relentless act. Rights and freedoms will not give up. “Spain will not tolerate this,” Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted tonight.
