In the municipality of Arroyomolinos (Madrid), an event dedicated to the deaths of 7,291 people in the region’s nursing homes at the height of the coronavirus pandemic was unexpectedly canceled the day before it was to take place. The organizers, the association “Marea de Residencias,” are convinced that the authorities are deliberately hindering open discussion about the events of those months. According to them, all permits had been obtained in advance, and the decision to ban the event came only after information about the meeting began to circulate publicly.
Officials, in turn, explained the cancellation by saying that the organizers had not paid the mandatory hall rental fee—almost 295 euros. The administration emphasized that it cannot make exceptions for organizations that are not officially registered in the municipality, and that offering the venue for free would violate the rules. However, representatives of the association believe this is not about bureaucracy but an attempt to keep the tragic events in nursing homes from gaining public attention.
The meeting was to feature journalist Manuel Rico, author of a book about the scandal in the residences. According to the organizers, authorities in the capital and other cities in the region have repeatedly obstructed similar initiatives. For instance, in February, the screening of a documentary criticizing the regional government’s actions during the pandemic was canceled in Móstoles. Organizers at the time also reported pressure and attempts to restrict freedom of information.
Similar incidents have occurred before. In March 2024, a meeting with relatives of the victims was canceled in Madrid, and in May, representatives of “Más Madrid” were forced to remove banners showing the number of victims after a complaint from opponents. That same month, the family affairs committee of the regional parliament barred an epidemiology expert from speaking, fearing uncomfortable topics might be raised. Another report on the situation in care homes was not presented in Alcorcón—the event was also canceled at the last minute.
According to activists, all these incidents point to a worrying trend: attempts to silence a tragedy that claimed the lives of thousands of elderly people. The questions of who is impeding open discussion and why remain unanswered, while relatives of the victims continue to demand transparency and justice.
