IT’S been many months in the planning but today is the day of what might well be the biggest event for the independence movement this calendar year – unless indyref2 is called.

Glasgow will host the colourful and noisy procession of tens of thousands of independence supporters on the March for Independence.

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Organised by the All Under One Banner (AUOB) coalition of pro-independence groups and individuals, the march will set off from Kelvingrove Park at 11.30am prompt and proceed through the city centre to Glasgow Green for a rally with some top-notch speakers.

The Yes DIY Hub has received messages from dozens of groups across the country, so we know buses are coming from Aberdeen, Dundee and all points north, south, east and west.

The National will be in attendance, so there will be at least one newspaper to cover the event – the Unionist press will no doubt find an excuse not to be there again.

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AUOB organiser Manny Singh has pledged that the event will be safe and secure for all attending and a trained team of volunteer stewards will be in place along the three-mile route.

Some people within the grassroots movement are concerned that the quoted target figure of 40,000 marchers may not materialise, but there is no doubt that some 25,000 people have already intimated on the AUOB Facebook page that they “like” the event and that should translate into a massive attendance.

Singh told The National: “We want people to come along and take part to make sure that a message is sent to the powers-that-be that the movement for independence is growing stronger all the time.

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“The grassroots Yes movement is growing each year and last year we had more than 20,000 people marching compared to 8000 the year before. We know a lot will depend on the weather but we would hope to double last year’s total.

“In any case we know that the Unionist media will downplay whatever numbers we get. If it’s 20,000, they’ll say it was 5000, but we will have accurate numbers.”

AUOB is already organising marches and rallies in Dumfries on June 2, at Bannockburn on June 23 and Inverness on July 28, so if you are not making it to Glasgow today you might care to put these dates in your diaries.

AUOB’s philosophy is that while “ordinary” campaigning such as leaflet drops and door knocking is important, the Yes movement needs to be seen being visible in high numbers, and marching is very much part of the tradition of Scottish politics.

AUOB has stressed that all of the events will be family friendly – the previous marches have been conducted with impeccable behaviour on the part of those attending and a terrific atmosphere was achieved on each occasion.

Singh said: “We think it is very important that the whole country is reached because the vote isn’t just going to be in Glasgow, and we must try to represent the aspirations of people across Scotland.”

There is a slight change to the final route today as agreed with Police Scotland, with a diversion along Elmbank Street that makes no difference to the overall plan. The list of speakers and musicians at Glasgow Green will be announced later this morning.

Singh said: “The march today and all our future marches will be an expression of a shared desire for self-determination.

“Scotland’s people want to decide their own future.”