Thousands expected at pro-independence march organised by All Under One Banner in the Highland capital this Saturday
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A MARCH in favour of Scottish independence is set to take over the Highland capital this weekend, with marchers expected from all over the country.
Although organisers expect a lower turnout than in previous years due to post-pandemic fears of big gatherings and the ongoing train strikes,
The march on Saturday, August 20, will start at 12.30 from Fisherman's car park and will then move towards Ardross Terrace, Ness Bridge, Culduthel Road and will continue at Castle Heather Park.
Lynn Macdonald, one of the organisers, said they were expecting anything between two and five thousand people to take part.
She said: "The feeling that I get when I talk to people from Inverness is that the announcement of October 2023 has galvanised people a bit I think. I think people will start waking up from the pandemic. There has been a lot of groups that have started doing things again.
"We hope to have a good turnout but I am afraid people will be affected by the train strikes.
"Hopefully people will organise buses to travel to the event, that's what they usually do but I haven't seen much movement with those organisations so we are not sure whether they will be running.
"This time just because off all the things such as the pandemic, it will be busy but it won't have the turnout it could have because of all these issues.
"At this stage people are still scared to come out in big crowds and after staying at home for so long, I think people have lost some of their energy.
"I think the independence movement is like a sleeping giant about wake up again, that's my personal idea.
She said that she thinks that is happening in Westminister could galvanise the movement.
This is the first rally of the group in the Highlands since the last rally of 2018.
On the day musicians and speakers will be attending the event.
What do you think about the pro-independence march?
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