MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Be in no doubt - independence is coming,” thousands march in Edinburgh


The demonstrators, many carrying Scottish flags, some wearing kilts and a few playing bagpipes - set off from Holyrood Park in the heart of the Scottish capital.

Tens of thousands of Scottish independence supporters marched in Edinburgh on Saturday, as calls grow for a fresh vote on Scotland breaking away from the United Kingdom with Brexit scheduled for within weeks.

The demonstrators, many carrying Scottish flags, some wearing kilts and a few playing musical instruments - including bagpipes - set off from Holyrood Park in the heart of the Scottish capital.

Some chanted “What do we want? Independence” as the throng of people made its way up the city's famous Royal Mile.

Among those present was lawyer and Scottish Nationalist (SNP) lawmaker Joanna Cherry, who was behind one of the successful legal challenges to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament.

She was also one of the main backers of a law passed last month forcing Johnson to ask the European Union for more time to avoid crashing out of the EU without a deal.

The group organizing Saturday's march, All Under One Banner, claimed more than 200,000 people turned out for the rally - far exceeding their predictions.

Police Scotland did not give an estimate of the crowd's size.

Scotland voted against independence in a 2014 referendum by 55%.

But nationalists argue that the 2016 British referendum in favor of Brexit means another independence referendum is necessary - because Scotland voted by 62% to stay in the European Union.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP, has argued that Brexit will devastate the economy.

Nationalists also argue that some people voted against independence thinking it would guarantee their place inside the EU.

Sturgeon, who wants a second independence referendum in 2021, was unable to attend the march, but tweeted a message of support.

“Be in no doubt - independence is coming,” she said in the message.

A small number of pro-Union protesters carrying Union Jack flags staged a counter-demonstration in central Edinburgh.