TEARS defined a day and evening of emotion as people from all over Scotland turned out in dreich weather for vigils marking the country’s unwilling exit from the EU. New Scots from elsewhere in Europe, many facing an uncertain future, joined in the demonstrations which took place in all the cities as well as towns and villages from Dumfries and Galloway to the Highlands and Islands.
Around 300 people, including singer Sheena Wellington and writer and broadcaster Billy Kay, held a candlelit vigil in Dundee City Square. Wellington said the event was “beautiful”.
“It was good to be with so many people who had such a commitment to Scotland’s place in Europe,” she said.
Kay, who spoke at the event, pointed out that the French version of Auld Lang Syne is “ce n’est qu’un au revoir”, meaning “it’s just a farewell, we will see each other again”.
SNP MP Kirsty Blackman was among the hundreds who gathered in Aberdeen with banners highlighting “Scotland’s Right to Choose”. Aye Aberdeen handed out leaflets to shoppers during the day before an 11pm vigil with candles and music.
“Cars tooted as they drove past the banners and spontaneous renditions of Ode to Joy rang out,” said Aye Aberdeen co-chair Teresa Dufficy.
“One NOT IN OUR NAME man came up and thanked us. His wife was German and he said demonstrations like this really matter.
In Perth, SNP MPs Pete Wishart and John Nicholson along with SNP deputy leader John Swinney marked the occasion at the Queen’s Bridge following a social gathering.
“We will continue to highlight the broken promises and the impact of Brexit and we will campaign for the UK to have as close ties with the EU as possible. If Scotland becomes independent we will campaign for it to join the EU,” said Susannah Rae of Perth for Europe.
“John Swinney noted that during his lifetime, working in the EU had gone from being difficult to very, very easy. For his children’s generation it is now going back to being difficult, which is very sad.
“Pete Wishart talked of his pride in Perth’s pro-EU movement and his sadness at Scotland being pulled out in a Brexit that we did not vote for.
“We finished by singing Ode to Joy and Auld Lang Syne. It was very sad and some were in tears.”
A 12-and-a-half-hour vigil was staged in Kirriemuir with support from all walks of life from farmers to schoolchildren, as well as people from towns and villages such as Forfar, Alyth, Blairgowrie and Arbroath.
“It was brilliant – we were blown away by the level of solidarity and support,” said Ruth Watson of Yes Kirriemuir.
“We were really heartened as we were prepared for it to be sad and miserable but it was absolutely tremendous, especially seeing how many teenagers and young people interested.”
At one point there was a small choir, three bagpipes and a guitarist as well as an impromptu Strip the Willow in the square.
“A huge part of what this was about not only giving people an avenue to express how they feel about being taken out of the EU, but also about showing solidarity with those whose lives have been turned upside down by it,” she said.
“These people are here legally but are being told their legitimacy is now being retrospectively scrutinised. It is completely against human justice.”
An event called We Are Europe was held at An Crùbh community hub in Sleat, while an Auf Wiederschen Europe candlelit vigil took place in Portree, organised by Yes Skye and Lochalsh.
“Folk were Dutch, German, Finnish, Swedish, Polish, French, Swiss/ Irish and the English spouses of Dutch and Scottish partners were very happy to be new Scots,” said Mark Wringe, organiser of the Sleat gathering.
“A lot of people had not met before and all thought it was a great idea to just be together. We brought and shared food [Portuguese tarts, German onion tarts, Dutch cheese eaten with mustard]) and shared songs, poems, thoughts and music.”
Oban also saw a “great” turnout, with Grassroots Tow-blerone playing Ode to Joy and a rendition of Auld Lang Syne at the end.
“We clearly all felt it had made a deeply sad and emotional moment a bit brighter. For those of us with only UK passports we have lost a citizenship, and reverted to being ‘subjects’. But Europe is still here, still us,” said Lucy Roberts of Grassroots Oban.
More events were held in Inverness, Stirling, Dumfries, Dumbarton, Kirkcaldy, Inverclyde and Islay, as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
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