Thousands join latest march for independence in Barry
Thousands of people marched through the streets of Barry on Saturday in support of Welsh independence.
South Wales Police estimated that over six thousand people followed the circular route from the town’s King’s Square.
The size of the match, organised by YesCymru and AUOBCymru, was significantly larger than anticipated by the police and was more than twice the size of the march last year in Carmarthen.
There was particular significance in the selection of Barry to host the march, reflecting a legacy dating back to the 19th century, when the town played a key role in the Cymru Fydd movement for Welsh self-government in the 1890s.
Groups from Catalonia and Flanders also attended the march, which was followed by a rally in King’s Square featuring speeches from former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, Catalan campaigner Anna Arqué i Solsona, political activist Kiera Marshall, Wales Green Party spokesperson Tessa Marshall and singer-songwriter Eädyth Crawford.
For the first time at a March for Independence, all speakers and performers – other than the MC – were women.
‘Celebration’
Kiera Marshall, a 27-year-old activist from Swansea, and a Plaid Cymru candidate at the last general election, said:” “How can we afford not to be independent? The UK system keeps us poor, while our children go hungry and cold.
“We are the generation bearing the brunt of this system – but we are also the generation who will change it. I cannot wait to stand here again one day, not in protest, but in celebration of a free and fair Wales.”
Leanne Wood said:” “It’s time to end our dependence. We have an opportunity to build an alternative to the failed economic model that serves the City of London while leaving crumbs for communities in Wales. In the face of growing intolerance and hate, our movement must offer hope. We know our country can do better.”
Anna Arqué i Solsona, spokesperson for the International Commission of European Citizens (ICEC), added: “Movements like ours believe democracy is the best path to full self-determination, even when it clashes with the interests of the states we’re trapped within. That’s why solidarity among our nations is vital.”
Tessa Marshall from the Wales Green Party added: “We can’t afford to stay shackled to the British state.
“Child poverty in Wales is not the result of bad choices – it’s decades of underinvestment and decisions made far from communities like ours. An independent Wales can stand for children, end hunger and cold homes, and fund a decent start to life.”
Opinion poll
The Barry march follows a recent Redfield & Wilton poll commissioned by YesCymru, which showed that 41% of decided voters would vote for independence – rising to 72% among 25 to 34-year-olds.
Reflecting on those figures, Mark Hooper said: “41 percent support Independence now, that’s amazing. But we haven’t won. So, how do we win now, is the next stage.
“One of the key things though, is that 72% of 25 to 34-year-olds support Independence, and they’re the people who’ve lost out most in the system that we’ve got.
“So, for those who are a bit older, it’s now up to us to work with them to deliver Independence.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Our young believe in independence – they are the future. To deliver that independence for them everyone must work together now. Delivering the message, to the population of Cymru, that shows how it can be achieved.
I don’t remember Leanne ever mentioning the “I” word when she was leader.
Different times, different political atmosphere.
No point slighting vocal proponents now for perceived or actual lack of action in the past.
Isn’t independence the whole point of Plaid?
It’s only by voting for plaid that we’ll secure independence that’s for sure
Then you must have a very poor memory. She made it a cornerstone of her 2012 leadership.campaign, and certainly raised the issue more than her predecessors
Ieuan Wyn Jones and Dafydd Wigley
Have you ever thought why the older generation like myself as i am 75 think that independence is a bad thing because they believe like we are children are kept by england do you not think if it was so England would ditch us i believe its the other way around england gains from us we keep them they listen and read the propaganda from the english media and believe it the younger generation do not believe that clap trap and it will happen freedom from england
I’ll be 80 this coming summer – assuming that I live so long! – but, apparently unlike quite a lot of old folk here in Wales, these days I now think independence might perhaps be worth a try. That’s rather at variance with my view a while back. But ever since the global financial crash back in 2008 it seems to me that the UK as an entity has been going down the pan. And opting for Brexit in 2016 has manifestly made that situation worse. I suspect that if Wales were to manage to take the independence road, the… Read more »
I think the statistics that show some older people in Wales aren’t supporters of Independence reflect the volume of this demographic who have moved here to retire.. and these are the ones who will vote reform !
Bet ARTD is in the bushes grumbling away shaking his fist.
Like every empire, this one is just past its use by date and is coming to a natural end. I think Brexit has shown how unsuitable the “union” is and thankfully the farage supporters inadvertently drove the last nail into the UK’s coffin.
I do find it worrying that people are turning to reform,when it was essentially dodgy Nige and his band of wronguns that have helped cause the very issues that have caused the start of the end.
Still a very small minority actually want an independent Wales
As more people receive the facts, that number will definitely rise. Its basic spreading of disinformation that has kept the number low, now that the population has been given more access to accurate data, the Westminster spewed lies and propaganda will be revealed ad the electorate will have the power to make informed decisions.