Thousands of people demonstrated across Madrid and other Spanish cities after 87-year-old María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal was evicted from her apartment where she had lived since 1956.

The Madrid Tenants’ Union organised a demonstration of about 10,000 people, according to the Spanish government’s delegation in Madrid, with protesters calling for stronger protections against evictions and action on Spain’s housing crisis.

The eviction was the fourth attempt to remove Maricarmen from the apartment, with police clearing supporters who had gathered outside and inside the building to oppose it.

Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, made a final request for additional time so Maricarmen could find another place to live, but the company that controlled the property refused, Euro News has reported.

The eviction has continued to fuel protests and criticism of housing policies, including demonstrations outside a luxury penthouse acquired by the Madrid regional government through a publicly owned company.