PROTESTERS will rally in Glasgow this weekend as part of a global day of action opposing the war in Ukraine.
Organisations including the Stop the War Coalition Scotland, Scottish CND and the Afghan Human Rights Foundation will march through Glasgow on May 7 in solidarity with similar demonstrations taking place across the world, calling on the Russian military to leave Ukraine.
Assembling at noon at Glasgow’s Blythswood Square, the protest will also highlight the dangers of nuclear war, voice their opposition to the escalation of a proxy war between Russia and NATO, and call for Trident to be scrapped.
In addition to statements from peace activists from Ukraine, speakers will include representatives from trade unions, refugee rights groups and the Scottish anti-war movement.
A spokesperson from the Stop the War Coalition commented: "It is vital that we build a coordinated international movement against war. We are calling for Russian troops out of Ukraine, and stand in solidarity with the Russian anti-war movement.
"Recent days and weeks have also seen a ratcheting up of the conflict between NATO and Russia, with fears of a long proxy war now running high. That will only bring yet more suffering to the people of Ukraine, so we oppose such escalations.
"At the same time there is the global threat of the use of nuclear weapons too. That is why we want to make a stand in the best traditions of the Scottish anti-war and peace movement to say: no to Trident.
"We encourage all who support these aims to attend. This is just the start of building a strong anti-war movement across the country. In short: stop the war, start the peace."
Scottish CND’s Isobel Lindsay added: "We have had thirty years of failure to develop a new Europe-wide cooperative security structure. Both US-led NATO and Russia prioritised pushing ahead with new-generation nuclear systems.
"The immediate priority is to end this war for the sake of the ordinary people of Ukraine. But it has shown how we could drift into a terrifying nuclear stand-off and Scotland would be a top target. We have to look ahead to reverse the insane nuclear arms race.
"A Scottish state could make a truly significant international contribution to this by ratifying the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and starting that reversal."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here