WE won’t start with the old cliché about “all roads leading to” but there are certainly a lot of buses, trains and cars heading for Glasgow next Saturday judging by the messages coming in from Yes groups around the country.
The All Under One Banner (AUOB) March for Independence on May 5 looks set to break the record for AUOB participation, when a crowd of up to 40,000 is anticipated to march through Glasgow from Kelvingrove to Glasgow Green – please note the change of the event’s destination from George Square as asked for by Police Scotland for safety reasons because of the numbers expected.
READ MORE: SNP depute candidate: We WILL use our indyref2 mandate before 2021
The procession will be colourful and noisy and will be stewarded by a veteran team comprising of volunteers who have successfully and adeptly looked after participants at the previous seven AUOB events.
AUOB told The National: “So as to ensure that we give all new volunteers sufficient training we are hosting a pre-march briefing on Sunday, April 29 in Hillhead Library from 1 to 4pm. We shall dissect every aspect of a volunteer stewards duties from start to finish for the big day.
“We have all the equipment we require and most importantly have our superb head steward team.”
READ MORE: Scotland in Union's big-money donors: here's what we're up against
This will be the largest pro-independence event this year, barring the calling of a second referendum, and AUOB are going to spread the message around the country.
Spokesman Neil Mackay added: “This year we are taking AUOB on a national tour and this will incrementally increase as each year comes to pass to independence and beyond, with new locations now to be added every year with marches and rallies taking place in every location to galvanise the message of the movement, to help bring our people together and to ensure the independence conversation continues all across the land – for as we know Yes has logic and truth on its side and this shall prevail and overcome the more people open their minds to our message.”
READ MORE: Inveryess asks how do you start a new country?
After Glasgow, AUOB is staging marches and rallies on June 2 in Dumfries, June 23 at Bannockburn and July 28 in Inverness.
“AUOB was set up to create a new tradition with independence supporters being asked to March for Independence, undiluted pure and simple,” Mackay said.
“We shall sustainably march and rally unto independence and beyond to claim Scotland as the territory of the Scottish people, visually, acoustically and energetically.
“We are here to stay and ensure that our children, and all yet to be born, grow up in a Scotland where Scottish nationalism has claimed the streets and parks in marching tradition year on year – a tradition to be part of and proud of, that we forge ahead with this year.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel