Thousands march in Zaragoza and tens of thousands take to the streets across Spain in support of Ceuta
The Plaza del Pilar in Zaragoza gathered between 25,000 and 32,500 people. Across Spain, tens of thousands protested on Ceuta Day against the migration crisis following the irregular entry of more than 70,000 people into the enclave at the end of July.
Plaza del Pilar in Zaragoza was filled with thousands of Spanish flags on Wednesday night. The City Hall estimated between 25,000 and 32,500 people, according to counting cameras. The most repeated chants were "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta is defended," "Spain is not for sale," and "End the invasion." There were also calls for the resignation of Pedro Sánchez.
The rally, called by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) on Ceuta Day, was led by Mayor Natalia Chueca and the President of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, both from the PP party. Residents of Ceuta living in Zaragoza read a manifesto: the autonomous city is an “irrevocable part” of Spain and “cannot bear alone” the pressure on the southern border of the European Union. In Huesca and Teruel, there were 3,000 and 2,000 people respectively; another 26 Aragonese municipalities also mobilized.
The Zaragoza event was part of a national day of action. In Madrid, the Government Delegation spoke of approximately 50,000 people in the Plaza de Cibeles; the City Council raised the figure to 150,000. In Valencia, about 25,000. In Ceuta, 20,000—the largest recent march in the city. In Albacete, more than 28,000. Castile and León saw approximately 70,000 protesters across its nine provincial capitals. There were also gatherings in Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Barcelona, Bilbao, Palma, and hundreds of other municipalities. Combined, the mobilizations easily surpassed 100,000 nationwide.
The trigger was the irregular entry of over 70,000 people into Ceuta on July 30th and 31st. Most returned to Morocco; the government estimates around 5,000 remain in the enclave, including 1,200 to 1,500 minors, in a city of just over 83,000 inhabitants. Local authorities cite higher numbers. Reports of insecurity, encampments on beaches and in parks, and a police report on the role of Moroccan agents at the border crossing fueled anger in the streets.
In several cities, there were counter-demonstrations against racism. In Madrid, after the main event, a group attempted to march to Congress, and the police used riot gear. Feijóo (PP) and Abascal (Vox) were in the capital at different times. The government argues that it has reinforced resources in Ceuta and that there is no proof that Rabat orchestrated the avalanche; the opposition speaks of state failure and deliberate pressure on the border.
BREAKING:
Thousands of Spaniards are marching in Zaragoza tonight to protest against mass-immigration and the invasion of Ceuta.
Hundreds of thousands are protesting tonight in cities across the country ???????? pic.twitter.com/0rI7vG5jDp — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 2, 2026
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