In a heartfelt formal ceremony held at the city council's hall on Monday, A Coruña's mayor Inés Rey conferred the honorary title of "Adopted Sons of the City" to Ibrahima Diack and Magatte N'Diaye. The decision was made to commemorate their selfless actions during a harrowing incident in July 2021 when Samuel Luiz, a 24-year-old gay man, was brutally assaulted by a mob outside a nightclub.
Despite being undocumented migrants at the time, Diack and N'Diaye were the only ones in the vicinity who dared to intervene while others merely recorded the attack on their phones. Samuel later succumbed to his injuries, prompting nationwide outrage and fresh discourse on homophobia in Spain. Mayor Rey praised their actions as "pure heroism," reflecting on the lessons that arise from their willingness to confront danger head-on.
"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 stated. Another city councillor, Rosalía López, expressed gratitude in a social media post, highlighting their significant act of bravery in the face of potential personal consequences.
During the ceremony, the two men stated they were not heroes but felt morally compelled to act. "We are not heroes, we did what we had to do," said Mr. N'Diaye. His counterpart, Mr. Diack, emphasized the importance of respect and values learned from his upbringing, contrasting that with monetary wealth.
Both have played a pivotal role in the judicial proceedings against Luiz's murderers, which concluded last November with a court sentencing four men involved in the crime. The sentences ranged from 10 to 24 years, with the main perpetrator receiving a 24-year term for his violent and homophobic actions.
Despite the dangers faced by many migrants crossing into Spain, often from African nations such as Senegal, the story of Diack and N'Diaye sheds light on the resilience and bravery that can emerge in troubling times.
