THE Autumn of Indy Action is now moving into phase two after a highly successful weekend.
Yessers all across Scotland took part in a Day of Action on Saturday scoring achievements that included the handing out of more than 150,000 leaflets as part of the drive.
The campaign, organised by Believe In Scotland, has been supported by The National, with our Saturday paper including a special 24-page supplement making the case for Yes that could be handed out.
There were 112 local Yes groups officially taking part in Saturday’s event.
Believe In Scotland founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp is pleased with how the Autumn drive kicked off.
He told us: “Saturday’s Day of Indy Action was just the start of a much larger campaign.
“The Yes movement needed a shot in the arm, there had been a big drop in activity during lockdown, people getting fed up of Zoom-only meetings, of the Yes movement fighting amongst itself on social media etc.
“We needed to focus on being independent ambassadors – to get out of the Yes bubble and engage the undecided, and we took the first step back into the light.
“112 local Yes groups took part, with street stalls from Shetland to Dumfries, from Inverclyde to Edinburgh.
“Small groups of people were having conversations on stalls, but also more than 150,000 leaflets and Open Minds newspapers were handed out or put through doors – it’s not as photogenic as a mass rally or march but highly effective.
“Hundreds and hundreds of photos of activists, happy to be campaigning again, were posted on social media, with #BelieveinScotland trending all day on Twitter.
“There were beach cleans, food bank drives and Yes convoys, there was home-baking – it was a good start.”
Success stories included the distribution of 300 Open Minds supplements by the Yes Perth City group – which was more than double what was expected.
Yes For EU also created a giant sign to be displayed outside the Scottish Parliament.
MacIntyre-Kemp is now looking ahead to the second phase of the campaign.
He said: “Now the Autumn of Indy Action campaign starts and we want to reach two million people with door drops and billboards and social media adverts before winter begins.
“Then another Day of Action and new leaflets and publications next year.
“Free by 2023? Only if we remember how to campaign, leave political division out of the Believe in Scotland campaign and engage, inform and convince the undecided and welcome those that change their minds with open arms.”
Among the groups taking part in Saturday was Yes Glasgow North West and Yes Inverclyde, along with English Scots for Yes (above) who had a stall set up in Helensburgh.
There were also indy stalls in Portobello, Ayr, Duns, Edinburgh and Skye.
The campaign is also being supported by the National Yes Network and Scottish Independence Foundation.
Overall, a grand total of more than 1000 activists took part in the big day.
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