In July 2021, the incident occurred outside a nightclub when Samuel Luiz, a 24-year-old gay man, was assaulted by a group of men who kicked and punched him mercilessly. Tragically, Luiz succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, an event that ignited widespread outrage across Spain. On Monday, the city council of A Coruña formally honored Diack and N'Diaye by granting them the title of "Adopted Sons of A Coruña" during a ceremony led by Mayor Inés Rey.
Mayor Rey praised the men's actions, defining them as "pure heroism." She emphasized that it was particularly poignant that two undocumented migrants were the only individuals to physically intervene against the group that attacked Luiz, while others looked on, some documenting the incident on their phones. "Their courage amidst the chaos is a lesson for us all," Mayor Rey stated, highlighting the risks the men took in defending a stranger.
Both men had been living in A Coruña without legal documents and were working in the informal economy, making their decision to intervene even more perilous. In response to the accolades, N'Diaye humbly remarked, "We are not heroes; we did what we felt was right." Diack echoed this sentiment, citing the valuable life lessons instilled in him by his family rather than material wealth.
Their courageous testimony also played a critical role in the subsequent trial of Luiz's assailants, which concluded with four men being sentenced to prison for murder, with the main perpetrator receiving a 24-year sentence for his homophobic actions. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles against homophobia as well as the challenges faced by migrants in seeking a better life.
Mayor Rey praised the men's actions, defining them as "pure heroism." She emphasized that it was particularly poignant that two undocumented migrants were the only individuals to physically intervene against the group that attacked Luiz, while others looked on, some documenting the incident on their phones. "Their courage amidst the chaos is a lesson for us all," Mayor Rey stated, highlighting the risks the men took in defending a stranger.
Both men had been living in A Coruña without legal documents and were working in the informal economy, making their decision to intervene even more perilous. In response to the accolades, N'Diaye humbly remarked, "We are not heroes; we did what we felt was right." Diack echoed this sentiment, citing the valuable life lessons instilled in him by his family rather than material wealth.
Their courageous testimony also played a critical role in the subsequent trial of Luiz's assailants, which concluded with four men being sentenced to prison for murder, with the main perpetrator receiving a 24-year sentence for his homophobic actions. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles against homophobia as well as the challenges faced by migrants in seeking a better life.
