Eduardo Gutiérrez, a retired economist from El Candado, approached the port of Málaga to find a captain to take him to Ceuta. About 50 boats set off from various Andalusian ports to show support following the border assault.
Eduardo Gutiérrez, a retired economist living in El Candado, spent Saturday morning at the port of Málaga with a clear goal: to find a captain willing to take him on their boat to Ceuta to join the 'Armada of Solidarity'.
The flotilla, driven by Marbella businessman Pedro Rodríguez, among others, set off throughout the morning from various sports ports in Andalusia. According to the organisers, about 50 boats departed from locations such as Puerto Sherry, Puerto Banús, Benalmádena, and Granada, heading towards the autonomous city.
Gutiérrez, who does not own a boat, decided to take action on his own and head down to the port in his neighbourhood. “I live in El Candado, so I came down to the port to see if anyone was leaving from here. I even asked someone who was about to get into their car in the parking lot if they had a boat and if they were leaving, but I didn’t see anyone around who was going,” he explained to this newspaper.
The retiree claims he will cover all his expenses and that the return would be decided by the captain who accepts him. “If a boat takes me, I’ll go; the return would be up to the captain,” he added.
The initiative aims to show support from mainland Spaniards to the people of Ceuta following the assault on the border by over 80,000 immigrants at the end of July. Gutiérrez, who saw the call from businessman Marcos de Quinto on Instagram, believes it is “a great idea.” In his words, the flotilla “will provide symbolic support from the rest of the Spaniards who think this should not happen or should be combated more effectively.”
“One cannot remain indifferent to a situation like this that is occurring: let us all support Ceuta”
The resident of El Candado expressed his concern about the unfolding events, including the scuffles and attacks on immigrants on the beaches. He also sent a strong message: “There is a terminological confusion, and these people who have entered Ceuta in this way are being called immigrants, and no, they are invaders. That’s all, because they have arrived in Ceuta as part of a genuine invasion.”
Achieving his goal this Saturday will be complicated, as the bulk of the flotilla departed at ten in the morning from Algeciras. Pedro Rodríguez confirmed their arrival in Ceuta: “We arrived in Ceuta a little while ago and are moving to visit the city first before going for lunch. The crossing from Algeciras was a pleasant ride.” The journey lasted about two and a half hours, and the boats arriving throughout Saturday will be able to dock at the sports port of Ceuta, which is collaborating with the flotilla.
The organisers made a call for those who wanted to join to arrive by ferry from Algeciras, but some, like Gutiérrez, sought other means. No boat had left from the Málaga capital, as confirmed by the interested party himself.
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