THE little white rose of Scotland made its mark around the country yesterday in a protest against Brexit.
Independence activists responded to the call from Dumfries and Galloway Pensioners for Independence (DGPI) to wear a white rose or leave one in a prominent place to mark the weekend the UK was due to leave the EU.
READ MORE: Gallery: Our readers' fantastic pictures marking White Rose Day
That date has been postponed but people still turned out to show their opposition to Scotland being dragged out of the EU despite voting to stay.
“I’ve very pleased with the response,” said Ian of DGPI, who laid a rose at Langholm’s memorial to poet Hugh MacDiarmid, author of the poem The Little White Rose.
“People around Scotland are showing they are not going to lie down and be trampled on. I didn’t think we should accept this without marking the occasion and this was a simple idea people could get hold of.”
Others laid flowers at Burns’ statue and mausoleum in Dumfries, while in Musselburgh a group of around 40 local people met at the old Musselburgh Tolbooth and, led by a piper, walked the short distance to the banks of the River Esk where they gathered beneath two trees planted in 1993 by the local French and Italian twinning associations to commemorate Scotland’s entry into the single market in 1993.
Messages of support provided by Colin Beattie MSP and MEPs David Martin and Alyn Smith were read out and East Lothian provost, John McMillan, gave a short address highlighting Scotland’s long and historic connections with her European neighbours.
Other speakers highlighted the positive benefits to Scotland of being part of the European family of nations.
The event was streamed live by Gerry Mulvenna from Independence Live. Roses were laid at the commemorative plaques by the chair of the Musselburgh Twinning Association.
In Ayr, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee and Stirling stones beautifully painted with white roses were strategically placed by the Yes Stones group.
“We were inspired by White Rose Day and many of us have painted rose stones to leave where ever they can be found and their message read,” said group member Alison Rollo.
Chrisanne Wands, who painted some of the stones, said: “I love the insidious, Ninja nature of the Yes Stones movement, with my favourite hiding place being on top of the Daily Express in my local supermarket. I love that they can be funny, silly, inspiring, simple or complex and that the painter gets as much enjoyment as the finder. Even if they don’t believe in independence, at the very least, they provoke thought.
“The White Rose stones are slightly different – a sadder, deeper reflection on the loss of democracy, common sense and respect from our Brexiter neighbours. Hopefully, whoever finds them will take the time to think on Hugh MacDiarmid’s words and the sentiment expressed.”
The poem reads:
“The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet – and breaks the heart.”
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