The 60 Andalusian boats that arrived in Ceuta in solidarity with the autonomous city following the massive influx of immigrants a month ago were seen off on Sunday morning amid cheers from hundreds of locals, along with local vessels that joined this solidarity flotilla. “Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta is defended“, “I am Spanish” or “Invaders, expulsion” were some of the slogans this Sunday, already common in the demonstrations of recent days.
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These were chanted by the neighbors who looked out both at the marina for the departure and the promenade for the arrival of the boats, before they resumed their return to their destinations, mainly Algeciras and Tarifa, in Cádiz, and the Costa del Sol, in Málaga.
Dozens of motorcyclists from Ceuta joined with their vehicles at the reception, where flags and anthems of Spain and the Legion were not missing, in a festive and assertive atmosphere. Vehicles passing through the promenade area accompanied with their horns, amid applause from the people of Ceuta. Additionally, at the marina, many approached the boat captains in the morning to thank them for their presence in Ceuta for a solution to the humanitarian and security crisis the city is experiencing.
The president of the Parque Ceuta neighborhood, Raúl Fernández, encouraged the attendees with a megaphone on the promenade and, in statements to Efe, said that “the people are the ones who save the people“. Fernández said that “Ceuta is going through very difficult times” and needs all the support from Spain, so the presence of the neighbors is a way to thank the participants in the flotilla “for this effort”.
The government has “abandoned” the people of Ceuta for a month, this neighbor pointed out, emphasizing the fight to restore normality in the autonomous city.
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The route covered the area of San Amaro and El Desnarigado until reaching Chorrillo beach, where the boats gathered at sea past noon, while the neighbors waved their flags of Spain and Ceuta. The flotilla wanted to turn the sea that separates Ceuta from the Peninsula into a meeting point and convey a message of support and closeness to the citizens of the autonomous city.
Furthermore, the arrival of these boats comes just days before the support mobilizations for Ceuta scheduled for September 2, Ceuta Day, in different parts of Spain.
However, the day was not without controversy. According to Europa Press, the Civil Guard arrested eight Moroccan citizens on Sunday who waved a Moroccan flag during the gathering in Ceuta. The detainees were later transported by a boat of the armed institute from the vicinity of the Royal Walls.
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