AS well as hundreds turning out at Holyrood, activists in several other areas braved the weather on Tuesday night to turn the lights on.
Scots turned out with instruments, flags, banners and lights to mark the third anniversary of Brexit.
In Dundee, speakers highlighted regulations brought forward by EU on air, water and food regulations as well as working conditions and equality.
Joao Kay, a Portuguese professor at St Andrews University, Stephen Gethins, a former SNP MP and current constitutional expert and Jo Goodburn from the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS), all spoke to the crowd in Dundee's city square.
Goodburn encouraged pro-European members of the public to join and follow the EMiS’s campaigns this year.
Activists in Dumfries, MP Alister Jack’s home constituency, moved their event inside due to rain and winds forecast across Scotland. One sign read, "Hit the Road Jack: Scotland's Fantasy Viceroy".
Great turnout in Dumfries tonight for@time_scotland and #LightsOn with both Indy supporters and our friends in the European movement 😊 pic.twitter.com/iNqzrVMYeK
— boomers@dgp4indy (@boomersdgp4indy) January 31, 2023
Yes Highlands and Islands - an autonomous non-partisan umberella of 20 local groups had various Lights On events planned but many had to be cancelled due to forecasts.
Carole Inglis from Yes Skye and Lochalsh said: “The Highlands and Islands are suffering from the many harms of Brexit. Businesses are on reduced hours due to staff shortages, the SNHS is struggling to recruit and medicine costs have escalated everywhere. Families are facing uncertain futures and ridiculous visa expenses. Brexit was not in our name."
Peter E. Smith from LochYes said: “As Scotland suffers disproportionately from Brexit so the Highlands and Islands gets the worst of the hammering. From shellfish exports to tourism business staff shortages and so much more, Brexit has been extremely damaging with zero benefit. Scotland can do better making its own decisions.”
Orkney also had to cancel their Lights On event, and Brechin, Forfar and Carnoustie also all had to postpone their Bridges for Indy events due to the risk of gale-force winds.
Members of the EMiS in Glasgow turned out at the Buchannan Street steps, with a lit star leant against the Donald Dewar statue as the rain poured, one member described it as “symbolic” of the occasion.
Spirits were kept going in Edinburgh despite the weather forecast. SNP member Dr Mairianna Clyde tweeted: “Wind, sleet and snaw, on a bitterly cold night in January tonight couldn’t daunt our spirits”.
Yes Dunbar members came together to show solidarity and said they were joining "the many other civic groups across Scotland in saying '#WeDidntVoteForThis'".
Yes Dunbar members coming together to show solidarity with the many other civic groups across Scotland in saying #WeDidntVoteForThis #brexitharmsscotland #indylightheway pic.twitter.com/e5IXziOOlp
— Yes Dunbar 🏴 (@Yes_Dunbar) January 31, 2023
Yes Kirriemuir members were out from 3pm with music in the Town Square. The group previously held a 12-hour vigil in 2020 on the first day of Brexit.
The Kirriemuir rally for #ScotlandInEurope - we're here until 7 - everyone is welcome!#ShineALight #ScotlandInEurope#ScottishIndependence pic.twitter.com/d5eY1jDLUu
— YES Kirriemuir (@Yes_Kirriemuir) January 31, 2023
Perth activists hosted a free showing of the Stone of Destiny, as well as a raffle.
