Thousands Rally in Madrid to Support Ceuta Women
Today in Madrid, thousands of individuals gathered to express their solidarity with the women of Ceuta during a demonstration aimed at demanding solutions that would allow the autonomous city to return to its pre-July 30 normalcy. This significant gathering comes in light of the massive influx of 80,000 individuals from Morocco on that date, which has heavily impacted the local community.
The march commenced at 11:30 AM, with families from Ceuta making their way from Atocha Square towards the Congress of Deputies in Plaza de las Cortes. Here, they are set to present a manifesto that outlines their demands, giving authorities a deadline of thirty days to implement the necessary changes.
Maxi Lacasa, a local police officer and member of the advocacy group 'Mujeres Caballas', emphasized the ongoing crisis, stating, "We have not seen any solutions in these three months. Ceuta urgently needs the immediate return of immigrants and enhanced border security through increased human, material, and technological resources." This sentiment was echoed by the President of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, who was present during the demonstration. Vivas criticized the prolonged state of disarray in the autonomous city, which has yet to recover from the mass migration events of July.
“Ceuta remains in an absolutely unsustainable situation, far from normalcy. We have not regained our usual state,” Vivas declared at the outset of the march. He further asserted that the mobilization was "more than justified" as the residents of Ceuta have had to alter their way of life, losing their security, peace, and freedom in the process. "This situation is intolerable. We are here to say enough is enough. We demand, in a just, civic, and peaceful manner, yet assertively, a return to normalcy," he insisted.
Vivas continued to stress that true normalcy can only be achieved with the return of the estimated 15,000 migrants still in Ceuta. He expressed indignation towards the government's handling of the situation, highlighting alarming statistics, including a 60% increase in crime and a staggering 400% rise in emergency health cases, alongside a five-point drop in Ceuta's GDP.
Women Leading the Charge for Change
The grassroots organization, Mujeres Caballas, consists of "heads of families" from various sectors who are appealing for support from the broader Spanish society. “We are lawyers, police officers, healthcare workers, teachers... We were at the forefront, stepping up in our daily conversations at school gates, voicing that Ceuta must return to normalcy,” explained Lacasa.
Security concerns are among the primary motivations driving these women to travel to Madrid to advocate for change. Lacasa noted, "We witness daily altercations that require medical assistance. There have been over 400 sexual assaults, particularly among migrants themselves, as we find ourselves confined." This rally highlights not only the struggle of Ceuta but also the unyielding spirit of its people as they seek to restore normalcy to their lives.
As reported by lavanguardia.com.
