Pro-EU Rallies in Scotland as UK Votes for Brexit

Following the UK referendum on EU membership, in which a majority voted to Leave the bloc, demonstrators gathered in Edinburgh to protest perceptions of racism and “xenophobic hyperbole,” said to dominate the eurosceptic Brexit campaign.

Around a thousand people gathered outside St. Giles' Cathedral in the capital of Scotland, where voters backed Remain by 62%, to declare their solidarity with migrants and fellow EU citizens living in the country.  In a statement issued beforehand, organizers described the Brexit campaign as:

"A ruling class [which] has opened a Pandora's box of racist rhetoric around migrants and allowed a space to open up in groups and individuals influenced by fascist ideology. Far-right political violence is becoming increasingly commonplace. The fascist riot earlier this year in Dover and the assassination of pro-migrant Labour MP, Jo Cox, are symptoms of this drift."

Around a thousand activists marched down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, before assembling outside the Scottish Parliament, chanting slogans like "Migrant workers and the sick, did not cause the deficit, that's bullshit, come off it, the enemy is profit."

A number of speakers addressed the crowd, in what was a celebration of multiculturalism in Scotland. Included in the group were couples who never would have met were it not for their ability to travel visa-free within Europe, immigrants who have embraced Scotland as their home, and defenders of workers' rights.

Pro-EU rallies held throughout Scotland as rest of the UK votes for Brexit

© Sputnik / Sputnik

Pro-EU rallies held throughout Scotland as rest of the UK votes for Brexit

© Sputnik / Sputnik

Pro-EU rallies held throughout Scotland as rest of the UK votes for Brexit

© Sputnik / Sputnik

Pro-EU rallies held throughout Scotland as rest of the UK votes for Brexit

© Sputnik / Sputnik

Similar protests also took place in Glasgow's George Square, featuring speakers from the Scottish Green party, RISE and the National Union of Students.

"Scotland wants to welcome people from across the world"- voters in Glasgow on #EURefResults #Brexit pic.twitter.com/0JOvueREZE

— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) June 24, 2016

Glasgow voters on #Brexit: "Absolutely gutted" #EURefResults pic.twitter.com/8YwAoRV3dy

— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) June 24, 2016

#Glasgow voters: "Scotland didn't vote for this, we want to be part of the EU" #Brexit pic.twitter.com/UTIvevY4Fo

— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) June 24, 2016

​Citizens of the UK voted to leave the EU by a margin of 1.9%, in a nationwide referendum held on Thursday, March 23, 2016.