Loyalist activists turned out to ‘protect’ Ayr’s war memorial on Sunday.
Despite a heavy police presence anticipating crowds flocking to Wellington Square for the weekend rally, only a handful of Loyalist Defence League (LDL) supporters turned up to stand peacefully beside Ayr Cenotaph.
The activist group- thought to be the same who took over Glasgow’s George Square - announced their plan to protect the memorial on Facebook with details of the event, adding ‘No Surrender’ to their post.
The gathering was described as “very quiet” as around 30 people guarded the memorial dedicated to over a thousand local residents who fell in World War 1 and World War 2.
A few supporters wore masks and adhered to current social distancing rules.
And a group of 10 men held up a blue and red striped ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’ flag- the national Latin motto of the Kingdom of Scotland which translates to ‘No one provokes me with impunity’.
Uniformed officers wearing gloves and masks stood near supporters while 11 police vans parked around the Square in wait.
And it was claimed a further 12 vans were on standby at the back of Prestwick Airport in case the rally got out of hand.
One resident said: “It was all very quiet. There was a lot of police there- I counted 11 vans as I walked passed.
“Some officers were more hidden than others; they obviously thought there was going to be a big rammy.
“But I’m glad it was peaceful and the folk respected our town and even social distancing rules.”
The LDL gatherings comes in response to the Black Lives Matter movement which has seen statues, mainly related to racism or the slave trade across Britain, being condemned and a few pulled down during mass protests.
Ayr war memorial has long been the place to pay respects on Remembrance Sunday as hundreds of army personnel, councillors and residents join together to lay poppy wreaths and honour the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The LDL group describe themselves on their Twitter account as “a patriotic, loyalist organisation with strong unionist views” whose “loyalty is to the Crown.”
Chief Inspector Brian Anderson, of Ayr Police Office, said that the police presence was there to reassure the public and to deal with any issues that may have arised, fortunately, there were no issues.
CI Anderson added: “It was a peaceful protest and our officers were not needed.”
