Thousands in Edinburgh demand peace for Gaza

Thousands turned out on in Edinburgh on Saturday to demand an end to the killing in Gaza. The Edinburgh UNISON banner was there as the rally at the Mound moved along Princes Street for a minute's silence and ended at Bute House, the First Minister's official residence.
  

Edinburgh UNISON banner - Tom Connolly

Hundreds also gathered in Aberdeen in the fourth consecutive week of demonstrations in the city. More than 60,000 also rallied in London. Malcolm Chisholm MSP and Aamer Anwar were among the speakers at the Edinburgh rally.

Edinburgh marches against austerity

UNISON joined hundreds of marchers in Edinburgh on Saturday to demand an end to austerity. The rally was planned to give the message loud and clear to the Tory Party conference being held in the city but marchers were angered when the march was diverted away from the planned route past Conference centre.

The march was backed by the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Edinburgh Anti-Cuts Alliance, anti-bedroom tax groups, disability campaigners and many more. A minute's silence was held at the Festival Square rally in memory of Bob Crow and Tony Benn.

UNISON Banners and contingents from Edinburgh City, Police Staff Scotland and Dundee City joined that March from the Mound to Festival Square passing within shouting distance to the Tory Conference but diverted from the original planned route.

Earlier in the week, demonstrators dressed in panda outfits reminded the Prime Minister that there were more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs. Edinburgh Zoo’s Tian Tian and Yang Guang outnumber Tory MP David Mundell by two to one.

Weekend of Action Against Tory Party Conference

MARCH AND RALLY: SATURDAY 15 MARCH
Assemble 11.00am at THE MOUND PRECINCT
Set off at 11.30am
March past the Scottish Tory Party Conference
Rally in FESTIVAL SQUARE

Speakers include: Jackie Bailie MSP, Aamer Anwar, Neil Finlay MSP& Carol Duggan from Justice for Mark Duggan + speakers from trade unions and campaigns from across Scotland.
Supported by: Scotland Trade Union Congress (STUC), Glasgow Unite Community, All Scotland Bedroom tax federation, Edinburgh Anti-Cuts Aliance, Edinburgh East Save Our Services, Greater Leith Against The Cuts, North Edinburgh Fights Back, All Lothian Bedroom Tax Federation, Disability History Scotland, Edinburgh Radical Independence Campaign, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Unite the Resistance Scotland, Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition, BARAC Scotland, Edinburgh Unite Against Fascism and many more.