Charlie Smith
THOUSANDS of Spaniards and British expats have staged a huge anti-Brexit protest near Spain’s border with Gibraltar.
Over 2,000 people took to the streets of La Linea today in order to voice their anger at the ‘dangerous’ situation the UK’s departure from the EU would create.
With the Rock looming just beyond the frontier, impassioned speakers took to the stage and told crowds why Brexit was economically damaging for Spain, the UK and Gibraltar.
One speaker was protest co-organiser Juan, Jose Uceda, president of the Sociocultural Association of Spanish Workers in Gibraltar (ASCTEG).
In a booming speech at Princess Sofia park the La Linea-born community leader referenced General Franco as he addressed the Gibraltar-Spain border issue.
He said: “We do not want this to be a new June 8, 1969, when a damn dictator closed the border, broken families and friends and we hurt and have not yet recovered.”
He called on politicians to allow workers in Gibraltar to be able to do so ‘without unfair double tax payments’.
After his speech he told the Olive Press: “Brexit is such a stupid idea, when you have the saftey of the EU, why would you create something so dangerous?
“People in the UK were lied to by politicians about their social security etc. during the EU referendum.”
The march, which began at 12:30pm today and made its way towards the frontier also saw the participation of the mayors of La Linea, San Roque and Los Barrios, Juan Franco, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix and Miguel Alconchel, respectively.
British expat Fran, 62, said she and her pal Lucy had come to protest ‘to support the local people that Brexit affects.’
The Jimena de la Frontera resident told the Olive Press: “I worry about what will happen to La Linea, because business with Gibraltar has given it a boost.
“Brexit, it affects Spanish people as much as British people, I just think it’s really sad.”
