Sign the Indy Pledge – and help improve our movement

It’s worth reminding them that the only people who have ever been imprisoned for their online abuse and death threats have been opponents of independence. However the vile cybernat meme is one which opponents of independence are determined to pursue, a convenient stick with which to beat the cause of independence in the absence of any substantive positive arguments for the UK.

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The fact is that the British nationalist media in the UK is desperate to paint the independence movement as an evil and cruel bunch of social misfits. It’s a deliberate tactic on their part designed to ensure that people who have not yet engaged with the cause of independence are put off from making contact with independence activists. The media siezes on the most trivial instances of less than ideal online behaviour and blows them up out of all proportion.

We all recall the accusations of abuse and vandalism which turned out to be someone putting a Yes sticker on a Labour MP’s office door. We all remember the unsubstantiated allegations of death threats against opponents of independence which were printed as fact, yet when pressed for evidence nothing was forthcoming.

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The result is that the mainstream independence movement is subject to a trial by media in which it is judged by the actions of a tiny and unrepresentative minority who speak for no one but themselves. There are unbalanced individuals in all grassroots movements, but that does not mean that the movement as a whole is characterised by the behaviour of the worst.

There is a clear double standard at play in the British press. Mainstream opponents of independence would vehemently and angrily reject any suggestion that the views of the sectarian bigots, out-and-out racists, and the actual fascists on the fringes of British nationalism are at all reflective of the majority of those who campaign against Scottish independence. They are supported in their angry rejection by a press which is desperately seeking for anything that an independence supporter has said that can be portrayed as anti-English.

In order to demonstrate that the independence movement does care about its online image, and that the mainstream movement will have no truck with abuse, threats, or hate speech, a group of local activists have developed the Indy Pledge. The pledge is a voluntary code of conduct for both online and real-world campaigning activities. It is a statement of the core beliefs of the grassroots independence movement.

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The leading group in formulating the pledge has been Yes Kelty, however Yes Dunfermline, Yes Kirkintilloch and the independence live-streaming group IndependenceLive have all had significant input in deciding on the wording. These groups have consulted with other individuals and groups in the independence movement in order to formulate the wording of the pledge.

This is a valuable initiative which demonstrates that those of us who form the backbone of the independence movement refuse to accept the characterisation of us painted by a hostile press. We are not swivel-eyed English-haters, we are ordinary people from all walks of life and all backgrounds and ethnic origins who just happen to be committed to the radical principle that a country is best governed by people who can be bothered enough about it to actually live in it. Abuse, hatred and threats play no part in our movement and do not represent the values that we stand for.

Unlike the Conservative party, we will not silently tolerate sectarian organisations. Unlike Ukip we will not dog-whistle to racists. The independence movement holds itself to a higher standard, and we refuse to be judged by the online actions of individuals acting on their own who represent no one but themselves. The Scottish independence movement represents the best of Scotland.

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The Indy Pledge

The Indy Pledge is an agreement of the YES movement’s core values, offering simple positive principles, promoting our shared beliefs and actions as a force for positive change.

The intention is to encourage people to be mindful of how our actions, in person or online, can impact positively or negatively on the independence movement.

By signing this pledge, individuals, groups and organisations are agreeing to abide by the following core principles:

We are an inclusive movement that values all people equally and does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, gender, religious beliefs or non beliefs or sexual orientation. We will promote this inclusiveness in all our expressions and actions.

We work with respect for all people, regardless of our politics or differences of opinion.

We are a peaceful organisation and apply peaceful means of achieving independence.

We will promote a positive vision for independence.

We will work constructively towards the goal of independence: as individuals and as a movement.

We are an open grassroots movement and work with the utmost transparency in our ideas and actions.

We are a broad and diverse movement, and expect individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and contributions to the campaign for independence.

We are the grassroots of an independent Scotland. We believe that a dynamic and creative movement will bring a thriving Scotland, and we want all people to play a role. As we work towards independence, we will enable and encourage fellow members to develop their own skills and talents.

Independence starts with our movement and we must reflect the Scotland we want to be.

With this in mind, we ask that all people and all groups sign up to this pledge and make our contributions ever mindful of these principles.

The campaign we run in order to win independence will shape the kind of independent Scotland that we achieve. Let’s win a Scotland which is kind, tolerant, open and accepting of difference. Let’s win a Scotland where we know how to disagree without being disagreeable. The Indy Pledge is a statement of that aspiration.

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I’ve signed the Indy Pledge. Will you? You can sign up as a group or as an individual.

You can sign the Indy Pledge online at www.indypledge.online