Ceuta, Spain, Aug 9 (EFE).- Thousands of Ceuta residents took to the streets of the Spanish North African city on Sunday in a massive demonstration to demand a response to the serious situation following the massive influx of migrants on July 30.
Over 10,000 people, according to the organizers, and over 5,000 according to the National Police, called by the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu communities and the Provincial Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Ceuta, demonstrated without incident for over an hour.
The organizers stated that this was not the time for political affiliations or religious differences, but rather for Ceuta and its residents.
Among those in attendance was the city’s mayor, Juan Vivas, accompanied by members of the City Council and representatives of various political groups.
The rally took place in a packed Plaza de la Constitución, where attendees chanted slogans such as “Enough is enough,” “Sánchez, resign” (referring to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez), “Ceuta is Spanish,” “Deport the illegals,” and “Ceuta will not surrender,” among others, as protestors displayed Spanish and Ceuta flags.
The highlight of the rally was the reading of the “Manifesto for the Unity of Ceuta” by Ramesh Chandiramani, president of the Hindu Community of Ceuta, on behalf of the religious communities and residents who organized the event.
The manifesto began with a resounding declaration: “Ceuta is Spain,” and went on to advocate for a pluralistic city, built over generations by people of different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, yet united by a shared sense of community.
The document described the current situation as “extremely critical,” denouncing that Ceuta has suffered “a violation of its territorial integrity,” while calling on the Spanish government, European institutions, and all public administrations to provide an “immediate, decisive, and proportionate” response to the migratory pressure, humanitarian needs, and security challenges facing the city.
Religious communities and the Neighborhood Federation have called for sufficient human and material resources, priority attention to the borders, and a stable response that ensures security, humanitarian assistance, the protection of public services, and the well-being of Ceuta’s residents.
The demonstration concluded with a call for the authorities to act with “responsibility, commitment, and concrete solutions”; for Spanish society to show solidarity; and for the people of Ceuta to maintain calm, confidence, and unity.
On July 30, some 72,000 people from Morocco entered Ceuta irregularly, mainly by swimming; of these, 70,000 have returned to their country, according to the Spanish government.
At least 82 of them died, according to the Ceuta Institute of Forensic Medicine, while Morocco reported that 14 people lost their lives on Moroccan territory and 236 were injured.
Some NGOs put the total death toll at 141, including those from the other Spanish North African city, Melilla. EFE
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