The first march in support of Welsh independence in 2023 will be held in Swansea, All Under One Banner Cymru (AUOB Cymru) and YesCymru have announced today. The march is set to take place on May 20.
Last year saw two marches held. In Wrexham, around 8,000 campaigners took to the streets to show their support for an independent Wales in July. Another march was then held in Cardiff, the second of its kind held in the capital, in October of 2022 which saw around 10,000 campaigners take part.
Previous marches have been held in Caernarfon and Merthyr Tydfil, as well as in Cardiff where the first ever march was held in May 2019. In the past, guest speakers and performers have included Welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan, the late rugby player and commentator Eddie Butler, Scottish comedian and political activist Hardeep Singh Kohli, and former goalkeeper Neville Southall.
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It has not yet been confirmed which guest speakers and performers will take part in the Swansea march, however Elfed Williams, chair of YesCymru, has said that this event will be "the most ambitious yet". In a statement on Friday, Mr Williams said: "We are extremely happy to announce that the next March for Independence will be held in Swansea on 20th May.
"There is something special about coming together to march for an independent Wales and it’s great to see that the marches have grown every time with the Swansea march being the most ambitious yet! We look forward to working together with the people of Swansea to welcome people from all over Wales on 20th May. The cry for independence increases week by week as the people of Wales realise that the only way our country can thrive is to break away from this crumbling union."
Polls have put support for independence at about 30%. It comes at a time when talks of independence in the UK has gained momentum over recent months. In November, the Supreme Court made a very clear judgment in November that Scotland would need Westminster's permission if it wanted to hold an independence vote in the future.
Some believe that a decision on what Scotland can and can't do could have a ripple effect here in Wales and limit any attempts for Welsh independence or further devolution. According to Llywelyn ap Gwilym, on behalf of AUOBCymru, Wales "can do better" without Westminster, with independence being the "only answer".
He said: "The march in Swansea on 20th May will be the sixth march for independence and the most important march so far. After more than a decade in power the Tory government in Westminster continues to debase our politics and our livelihoods. The situation is reaching a crisis point.
"A dozen years of austerity, cratering the economy in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, rampant corruption around PPE procurement, and the relentless dehumanising comments from the home secretary - the UK government keeps sinking to ever lower depths. Enough is enough!
"In Wales we can do better for ourselves, and we must. If we want to live in a country which treats people with dignity and respects people's basic human rights, then there is no alternative: independence is the only answer. Join us at the March for Independence in Swansea on 20th May and make your voice heard!"
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