Thousands of pro-independence marchers stopped for a while on Regent Road to wait as people who needed assistance got on a bus up the steep hill.
Then everyone congregated on the grassy area in front of the National Monument where there was a stage ready for music and speeches. The speeches were kept reasonably short, but they were all spoken from the heart.
The march began against sunny skies from Parliament Square down the High Street and up Abbeyhill, winding its way to Regent Road and then Calton Hill.
John Swinney was seen shaking many hands in the crowd and speaking to people who had turned up, before delivering an emotional address. He was pushing against an open door, but his speech was well-received and not the kind of thing he delivers at Holyrood on a regular basis.
Mr Swinney told The Edinburgh Reporter: “Independence is relevant to the daily lives of people in Scotland. If you take energy, for example – we live in an energy rich country, but the people of Scotland and the businesses in Scotland don’t benefit from that energy in the way that you should, and that can only happen if we have independence.
“So independence is relevant to the daily lives of people in Scotland, and this demonstration of support today indicates the appetite in Scotland, and what we can do about that is vote emphatically for the SNP in this election to live an SNP majority that can make sure we can win that choice over Scotland’s future.”
Actor Brian Cox, CBE, made a short speech, but peppered it with some Logan Roy style language. He said: “Ive been ploughing my own furrow for many years now. I didn’t realise how much Scotland meant to me, how deeply it means to me. And it’s really come to me in my later life. But I feel it’s time that we were free. We are not free and we are the people who will make it free. So it’s up to you to do it. We’ve been treated like a poor relation for long e-f***n-nough. We really have and it’s time we showed them who we are – and who we are as a people. I can’t get it out of my system – I am a Scot. I’m even a Dundonian. It’s just amazing to me to see you all here and knowing that we all share the passion. It’s not about parties, it’s about people who want a free Scotland. And that’s what we have to get. So get out there, get your neighbours and get out voting and make this country free!”
Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens,Ross Greer said: “Scottish Greens are here to say that it’s time to put this country’s future in our own hands. Whether it is the cost of living crisis, the fact that we cannot control our own energy system and cut our bills are playing a more peaceful role in the world, standing against Israel’s genocide in Palestine, rather than arming it, like the British government has done.
“We can see time and again how this can be a fairer country, and a country that makes a fairer contribution to the world only with the powers of independence.
“And every vote for the Scottish Greens on the seventh of May is a vote for an independent Scotland back in the European
Union.”
The Scottish Greens co-leader, Gillian Mackay had been quite emotional in parliament during the week when mentioning the ending of the SNP-Greens coalition under Humza Yousaf’s leadership. She said that was partly because she and her colleague George Adam, “had been tasked with keeping everybody together and everybody going. It’s like any workplace, you put all of you into it including the emotional part. So when things like that break down it’s years of work that have gone into it. I think we should have a wee bit more emotion in our politics.”
Broadcaster and pro-independence campaigner, Lesley Riddoch, said: “There is something about Calton Hill. It’s quite a radical place. The vigil was here for five and a half years when people had no expectation of getting even a Scottish Parliament that we’ve now got.
“They came day and night, round the clock for five and a half years. That was staffed by volunteers to get a referendum. So you know, even if people feel it’s taking a long time, all the evidence says there’s a slow but steady movement in one direction is towards self determination and independence.”
Lawyer Aamer Anwar said it has always been time for independence in Scotland – and it is no different now. His view is that things have become even worse under the Westminster government. He said: “I think it’s time that this country was able to decide what they create, what they think, what they produce. And I’m tired of illegal wars. I’m tired of the fact that we live in a nuclear Scotland. I’m tired of the fact that justice is decided by Westminster or injustice is decided by them. So I think the people of Scotland should take their destiny into their own hands. That’s exactly what should be happening.”
Speakers included political leaders and prominent voices from Scotland’s independence movement, including:
- John Swinney, Leader of the SNP
- Gillian Mackay, Scottish Greens candidate, and Ross Greer, Scottish Greens candidate and Co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party
- Brian Cox, actor and independence supporter
- Lesley Riddoch, journalist and independence campaigner
- Aamer Anwar, Human Rights Lawyer
- Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, founder of Believe in Scotland
- Kevin Gore, Singer-songwriter
- Taylor Dyson, Scots Scriever
- Aonghas Mac a’ Ghobhainn agus caraidean
The rally was hosted by Alistair Heather
Once again Mr Swinney came in for criticism from Scottish Conservatives leader, Russell Findlay who said: “While John Swinney was up a hill rabble-rousing with nationalist diehards, I spent the day talking with ordinary Scots in the real world.
“By leading a nationalist rally on the first weekend of the election campaign, he confirmed how out of touch he is with the people of Scotland.
“Waiting tables at a restaurant in Swinney’s back yard, I heard about people’s real concerns including cost-of-living pressures and the plight of Scottish hospitality businesses.
“Swinney’s flag-waving antics confirmed that independence will always be his only priority.
“He says that he’ll win a majority on May 7 and use that to demand another divisive and unwanted referendum.
“Across Scotland, voters can stop an SNP majority by backing the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot paper.
“Unlike weak Labour and the fake unionists of Reform, we’re the only party with the strength to stand up to the SNP and stand up for the Union.”
