In a moving ceremony, the city of A Coruña recognized the courage of two Senegalese migrants, Magatte N'Diaye and Ibrahima Diack, for their brave intervention during a brutal attack on a gay man in July 2021. The pair was honored with the title of "adopted sons of the city" as a reflection of their heroic actions in saving Samuel Luiz, who tragically succumbed to his injuries following the attack.
Mayor Inés Rey praised their heroism at the city hall, noting that they were the only ones to act amid a crowd of bystanders. "That two undocumented migrants were the only ones who physically risked themselves to help the victim of a pack thirsting for horror leaves much food for thought," she remarked.
During the ceremony, mayor Rey and councillor Rosalía López expressed gratitude to the men, acknowledging the risks they took despite their precarious legal status. Both N'Diaye and Diack stated they felt compelled to help, dismissing any notions of heroism. "We are not heroes, we did what we had to do," said N'Diaye.
The migrants were also key witnesses in the trial of those who attacked Luiz, who was found murdered after the incident. A jury convicted four men, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from 10 to 24 years, citing evidence of homophobic motives during the attack. This incident has reignited discussions on issues of migration and discrimination in Spain, a country that sees thousands of migrants arriving illegally each year.
