A large crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday evening to protest against the European Referendum result and show support for Scotland to remain within the EU.
Those attending the event heard from several speakers, including Green MSP Alison Johnstone, spokespersons from Friends of the Earth and the Young European Movement on the lawn outside the Holyrood building.
Estimates by Police Scotland officers on site suggest there were 1500- 2000 people in attendance, a turnout that the organisers called “absolutely incredible”.
Throughout the event many of the speakers echoed the First Minister’s line that “all the options” to keep Scotland within the EU should be explored, although there were a number of applause breaks at any mention of a second Scottish Independence Referendum.
The event was organised by the Edinburgh branch of the Young European Movement, an organisation which seeks to promote pro-Europe sentiment across the UK.
Chief organiser Johnney Rhodes said of the event:
“I’m so proud of the people of Scotland who came out here and are standing up for their European future. What we want now is more marches, more demonstrations and more forums and a noise so loud that no one can ignore that Scotland is European.”
This event is the third of its kind to take place outside Holyrood in the six days since the EU referendum results. There was a twin event, also organised by the YEM, taking place simultaneously in Glasgow’s George Square.
YEM Vice President Liam Beattie described last week’s referendum as “some kind of catalyst” for political engagement for the Scottish public’s interest in Europe, saying:
“Europe is a part of all of us and I think the common bonds we have are on display this evening with all the people of different nationalities who came.”
Asked what he hopes will come from the evening’s demonstrations, Beattie said:
“The overwhelming majority of people in Scotland have expressed that the (EU referendum) outcome is not satisfactory. We’ve given the politicians a mandate and they need to act on it and ensure Scotland can get a better deal out of this.”
Reporter and Student Journalist at Edinburgh Napier University.
