The province of Malaga rallied this Wednesday in support of Ceuta during a day of gatherings called by the FEMP. Fuengirola and Marbella recorded the largest mobilisations, with 15,000 and 10,000 attendees respectively.
The province of Malaga responded massively to the call from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) in support of Ceuta, with gatherings taking place throughout the day. According to Diario Sur, the first events occurred at 12:00 in Ronda and Alfarnate, although most of the events were held at 20:00.
In Ronda, hundreds of people gathered in plaza Duquesa de Parcent, in front of the Town Hall, waving Spanish flags and holding banners with the slogan "Ceuta is not for sale, it is defended". In the afternoon, the largest gatherings were in Fuengirola and Marbella: 15,000 attendees in the former and 10,000 in the latter, spread across three locations (6,000 in Marbella, 3,000 in San Pedro Alcántara, and a thousand in Nueva Andalucía).
At the gathering in San Pedro Alcántara, in the square by the Church, former Prime Minister José María Aznar and his wife, Ana Botella, were present, although Aznar did not speak. The deputy mayor of San Pedro, Javier García, was responsible for reading the institutional manifesto.
In Marbella, the flag of Ceuta flew from early on at all municipal buildings. The Town Hall of Estepona also announced that it would keep the flag flying "until a solution is found to the serious situation facing the autonomous city". About 4,000 people gathered in front of the Town Hall, which had already been illuminated with the black and white colours of the Ceuta flag.
There was also notable participation in Benalmádena and in the three areas of Mijas. In Antequera, its Town Hall described the gathering as "historic", attended by hundreds of people. The gathering in Manilva was more modest, with around a hundred attendees according to the local council.
The mayor of Rincón de la Victoria and president of the Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, encouraged residents with a message on social media: "Today, Ceuta Day, we have a commitment to this sister city. Everyone with Ceuta. I am with Ceuta". The response was massive: 4,500 people, according to the Local Police, filled the plazas Al-Ándalus and Pepe El Boticario and surrounding streets.
In Torrox, dozens of people gathered at the Town Hall with banners and flags, chanting "I am Spanish, Spanish, Spanish". In Nerja, the gathering took place in the passage of Calle del Carmen, in front of the local government headquarters, to "send a loud and clear message: Nerja stands with Ceuta".
In Vélez-Málaga, the plaza de Las Carmelitas hosted numerous residents with the slogan "For our history. For our unity. For Ceuta. For Spain". In Torremolinos, the mayor Margarita del Cid expressed her "solidarity with our Ceuta compatriots in difficult times" and more than 3,500 people, according to the Town Hall, filled plaza Blas Infante.
The mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre, Joaquín Villanova, stated that "Ceuta needs us, our territorial integrity and the sovereignty and stability of all Spain are at stake". About 2,000 attendees, according to municipal data, gathered in plaza Antonio Vega González. In Coín, residents showed their support with applause, the Spanish national anthem, and signs with the slogan "Ceuta is not for sale. Ceuta is defended".
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