A GRASSROOTS pro-independence group has organised a demonstration outside Holyrood today from noon.

All Under One Banner’s (AUOB) protest is “a static, distanced demo ... not a march or a rally” and is being held in response to “this latest, gravest, threat to our rights”.

The group said: “The demonstration is the first in a series of actions which will continue every month and will grow as the threat to our rights and to our Scottish Parliament grows nearer.

“The unveiling by the Westminster Government of its ‘UK Internal Market’ white paper on July 16 shows that, even while Scotland strains every sinew to deal with the Covid crisis, London-based politicians are plotting and planning to destroy the rights of the people of Scotland.

“This is a clear warning of what is to come unless we stand firm, resist now and step out of the deceitful and dishonest Union as soon as we can.”

Keir McKechnie, an AUOB organiser, said: “We want to send a clear message to the Westminster junta who wish to strip us of our rights that the people of Scotland give notice of our intention to assert our democratic rights to self-determination and to independence.

“There is a growing appetite for independence across Scotland and Scottish society to make a clean break from an increasingly right wing, racist and unequal UK.”

AUOB also stressed that the demonstration would follow the current Covid regulations and guidance.

The group had planned marches and rallies to take place at Arbroath, Glasgow, Peebles, Elgin, Kirkcaldy, Stirling and Edinburgh during 2020, but says those marches and rallies will now take place in 2021.

Instead of the pro-independence marches on the streets of Scotland, the group has strictly limited participation in today’s Edinburgh event to local, registered people.

Their goal is to have no more than 129 protesters taking part – one for every MSP.

The group added that a Monday had specifically been chosen for the protest as it would be quieter than a weekend, and so would allow for two-metre social distancing to be maintained throughout.