A PRO-INDEPENDENCE campaign group has urged people to wave their Saltires in the Scottish capital on Saturday in a show against the “perversion” of the flag.
All Under One Banner (AUOB) urged Yes supporters to join a march and rally in Edinburgh on September 6 to demonstrate against the use of the Saltire by those “scapegoating asylum seekers and ethnic minorities”.
Across the UK, national flags have been raised on public infrastructure such as lamp posts following a far-right-backed “raise the colours” campaign.
While Union and English flags were used south of the Border, Saltires have appeared in some parts of Scotland, leading SNP MSP Bob Doris to raise concerns that there “may be an attempt by the far right to hijack our country's flag”.
Scotland's National flag - the Saltire, the St. Andrew's Cross - symbolises the country of Scotland and the Scottish people, representing the people's welcoming nature and the country's strong character. (1) pic.twitter.com/GQWPJOXbUF
— All Under One Banner (@AUOBNOW) September 4, 2025
In a call to join a “sea of Saltires” on Saturday, AUOB said: "Scotland's National flag – the Saltire, the St. Andrew's Cross – symbolises the country of Scotland and the Scottish people, representing the people's welcoming nature and the country's strong character.
“The Saltire being raised in places just now in Scotland in solidarity with 'operation raise the colours' is not Scotland's flag. That Saltire is the Saltire of the Union; the Union to exploit Scotland, the British flag, the Butcher’s apron, that imperial monstrosity, a flag of racism and colonialism.
“That Saltire is for the exploitation of the people of Scotland, to divide us and maintain London rule.
“That Saltire is for scapegoating asylum seekers and ethnic minorities, a flag of fearmongering, blaming and attacking, a flag of whipping up hatred against some of the most vulnerable in society to maintain the status quo.
“Those Saltires have been perverted and inverted, transformed in meaning, abused. Which is exactly the way Scotland is shafted in the British state, and the way refugees are being treated by the establishment just now. These flags do not represent Scotland, and do not represent the people of Scotland.
“And so we call everyone who stands with Scotland in our fight for independence and social justice, and who stands with us against the racist British state and fascism, to march on Saturday in Edinburgh, and make a sea of Saltires vibrant.
“The people of Scotland have the right to self-determination and shall exercise it. Let's take to the streets in our thousands this weekend in our nation's capital, marching all under one banner, to make this clear!”
The march is due to begin on Johnston Terrace in central Edinburgh at 12.30pm. Activists will proceed along Lawnmarket and down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament for a rally.
Also in Edinburgh on Saturday, pro-Palestine activists are expected to hold a demonstration against the UK Government’s proscription of Palestine Action, while the fringe extremist group A Force For Good is holding an anti-immigration rally at the Scottish Parliament.
