March for Justice: Thousands Demand Accountability for Elderly Deaths During COVID-19 in Madrid
This past Saturday, a significant demonstration organized by the Residence Tide took to the streets of Madrid, converging along the city's bustling Gran Vía. The rally, which drew approximately 2,000 participants according to police estimates, aimed to demand justice and accountability for the tragic loss of 7,291 elderly individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid.
As demonstrators marched, they passionately shouted slogans including "They are not deaths; they are murders," "Public and quality residences," and "We will not stop; we are demanding justice and truth." Prominently displayed at the forefront of the march was a banner boldly stating, "7,291 they would not have died the same way," highlighting the urgent call for recognition of the systematic failures that led to these preventable deaths.
The rally's organizers are advocating for a comprehensive state law on residences to ensure the rights of all individuals residing in care facilities. They emphasize that this legislative framework must be equipped with adequate human and material resources to support the care personnel tasked with looking after the elderly.
Key political figures, including spokespersons from Más Madrid and PSOE, voiced their solidarity with the grieving families. Manuela Bergerot, representing Más Madrid in the Assembly, expressed her unwavering support for the victims’ families. "Today, we have come from Más Madrid to support this cause for truth, justice, and reparation for all the elderly people who died during the pandemic due to the disgraceful protocols of Ms. Ayuso," she stated, critiquing the handling of the situation by the regional government.
Reyes Maroto, the socialist spokesperson at the Madrid City Council, called upon the Community's president to provide an apology for the deaths, emphasizing that the families deserve acknowledgment from those in power. "I believe that the families deserve the forgiveness of the one responsible for those deaths," Maroto said, lamenting the regional leader's recent remark suggesting that the bereaved families were purely motivated by economic interests.
Maroto also stressed the importance of reassessing the residential model within the Community of Madrid. "Residences must be spaces to live with dignity, not to die," she asserted, underlining the necessity for continuous improvement in elderly care. She pushed for reform at the state level to guarantee that elderly people have access to quality public services throughout their lives.
As the march concluded, the collective voice of the participants echoed the imperative for justice, shining a spotlight on the need for rigorous evaluation and transformation of elderly care services. This demonstration not only served as a poignant reminder of the tragic outcomes during a global health crisis but also as a rallying cry for greater accountability and enhanced rights for the elderly in care facilities.
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