A city in Spain has officially recognized the bravery of two Senegalese immigrants who attempted to rescue a gay man who was fatally assaulted by a homophobic crowd. At a formal ceremony on Monday, Ibrahima Diack and Magatte N’Diaye were conferred with the status of “adopted sons of the city” in A Coruña for their efforts.

During the ceremony, Mayor Inés Rey expressed her gratitude by describing the acts of the immigrants as true heroism. Video footage from the incident in July 2021 showed that while others chose to be spectators, the two immigrants were the only ones who intervened to help Samuel Luiz, who was violently attacked outside a nightclub.

Samuel Luiz, a 24-year-old, later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. This tragedy sparked widespread outrage across the nation.

The mayor also acknowledged the significant nature of the two immigrants acting heroically despite them being undocumented at the time and facing potential danger of deportation. Their bravery remains a powerful testament to their strong sense of morality in light of what could have been personal danger.

In addition to receiving plaques commemorating their status, Mr. Diack and Mr. N’Diaye also took part in the trial of Mr. Luiz’s killers, serving as important witnesses. A court later found four individuals guilty of murder, with the main accused receiving a 24-year sentence for the crime, and it was confirmed that homophobic slurs were yelled by the attacker.

Every year, thousands of migrants attempt to enter Spain, many via perilous boat journeys from the Atlantic, particularly from countries like Mali, Senegal, and Morocco.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx29pnzy1l7o