Once again Freedom Square, Glasgow was awash with saltires flying high as Scotland joined thousands around the U.K. and Europe taking to the streets to demand an end to Austerity. Estimates from Police Scotland say there was 1000 in attendance but I’d say that’s a fairly low estimate as people were coming and going all day. The mood was more sombre than it’s been at the recent Hope over Fear demos as the memory of those we’ve already lost to austerity and what the next five years might bring weighs heavily on the minds of those in attendance.
Renfrewshire was well represented with members of the SNP’s Tannahill branch in attendance as well as members of Renfrewshire CND and individuals from Paisley including local teachers and nurses who see clearly the effects these cuts are having on real people’s lives. Our newly elected M.P. for Renfrewshire and Paisley, Mhairi Black was also in attendance, though unfortunately I never seen her as I was walking around in a cold induced haze giving out Scrap Trident leaflets for Scottish CND.
With stories that Paisley’s job centre is one of the most heavily sanctioned in the country, there is no doubt our community is paying the price for austerity and yet the current government would rather spend £100 billion on Trident instead of investing in the people of the U.K. As Scotland is the home of this supposed “nuclear deterrent” that Greenpeace showed long ago isn’t a deterrent and we are all in the Kill Zone should there be an attack or accident at Faslane it is vital we encourage all our representatives to work together on this regardless of their political persuasion.
Overall the message of the day was hopeful and as the event came to a close the crowd sang along with Gerry Cinnamon’s Hope over Fear anthem, optimistic that we can create a fairer more just Scotland together.
Mhairi Black M.P. being elected was one of the highlights of the 2015 election and shows clearly what can happen when a community comes together with a common goal.
As we approach the Scottish Elections in 2016 it is important that we understand that should Scotland return 67% of Pro-Indy supporting SMP’s a Universal Declaration of Independence is not only possible but inevitable and Scotland’s Independence is the key to changing it all and the reason why so many people in attendance at Saturday’s event were wearing their I’m still YES t-shirts while waving their YES flags. We are no longer a country divided, we are a country united in our vision for a fairer more just society and this time we’re gonna do it anyway.
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