We are Still Yes. Billboards, flags, rallies, gatherings and posters to mark the 10th anniversary of indyref
Grassroots Yes groups across the nation marked the tenth anniversary of indyref with a range of activity throughout Scotland. A day that culminated with a Believe in Scotland rally and online broadcast from Holyrood on what was a warm and bright Wednesday evening.
Why mark the date - we lost?
Having been contacted by a couple of journalists in advance we were aware that the unionist media narrative on the 18th was going to be that - Nothing is happening, that the indy movement is inactive and it would be another ten years before they needed to think about Scotland again. - We wanted to challenge that and mark the date with activity across Scotland but recognising it was a midweek and therefore an evening event, we realised a large march and rally wouldn't be possible. Groups across the nation organised their own events and BiS organised a rally and online broadcast from Holyrood in the hope that independence supporters from the Edinburgh area and a bit further afield would join us at Holyrood, while those from further away can attend local events around the country or tune in to the live broadcast of the proceedings via Indylive and Broadcasting Scotland.
There were, local rallies across Scotland in Stirling, Aberdeen and Inverness and flag displays in Dundee, Oban and Kingussie, with indoor events in the evening in Orkney and Dumfries, so well done to all the local groups involved!
The Still Yes poster
Believe in Scotland teamed up with the National to offer a two page central spread poster of an updated version of the iconic 'Vote Yes' image from indyref by Believe in Scotland’s graphic artist Stewart Bremner.
Posters were placed in people's windows right across Scotland sending the message that we are “Still Yes” with a message that is non-party-political, friendly and iconic.
Billboards
Predominantly in Edinburgh to complement the rally we posted billboards around the city with the Still Yes image and Edinburgh specific Independence is Normal and Believe in Scotland images.
The Holyrood Rally
On the night outside Holyrood there were videos, musical performances and speakers who were key figures in the grassroots Yes movement in 2014.
The main speakers were:
- Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp: The founder of both the Believe in Scotland campaign and the pro-indy business network, Business for Scotland
- Lesley Riddoch: Broadcaster author and campaigner
- Richard Walker: Former Sunday Herald Editor and founder of The National Newspaper.
- Andrew Barr: One of the co-founders of the National Collective campaign from 2014.
- There were also musical performances from singers Aileen Carr and Graham Brown.
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, the founder of Believe in Scotland commented:
“These events hopefully mark the beginning of a new grassroots led era of independence campaigning. Our momentum towards Scottish independence will be truly regained when we have a grassroots movement rising to the challenge of championing the cause of Scotland’s independence alongside a competent and indy focussed political arm of the movement. So change is required.”
“We set up Believe in Scotland in 2019 in response to requests from Yes Groups across the country to create a campaign that supports grassroots engagement. We felt that the political route alone could not deliver independence. Now more and more people are realising that we need a collaborative grassroots led national campaign that everyone can join, that is focussed not on party-politics but championing our inclusive, progressive and shared vision of a better future for Scotland and our shared culture, values and hope for the future.”
Gordon's speech can be viewed here
Click the image below to view the Believe in Scotland independence campaign crowdfunder page
