Out and About: Aberdeen Unity March

Aberdeen has been one of several Scottish towns where far-right groups have held weekly street protests over the past year. This April, anti-racism campaigners are planning a unity march here on their own initiative, rather than in response to anyone else’s.

The march is one of a series running across Scotland between March and May, coordinated by Stand Up to Racism Scotland. The timing is deliberate. With Holyrood elections in May, organisers argue that a strong Reform UK result, potentially 20 or more MSPs, would give far-right politics a daily platform in the Scottish parliament and strengthen street-level activity in return.

From counter-protest to march

Stand Up to Racism Scotland says sustained counter-protesting and community organising has reduced far-right turnout significantly. All their 2026 mobilisations have been small, often under 50 people, a considerable drop from last summer when a protest outside a Falkirk hotel housing asylum seekers drew what the organisation describes as the largest far-right gathering in Scottish history.

The unity marches are intended to build on that by bringing together local campaigners, trade union branches, trades councils and faith groups to make a public case for solidarity ahead of the election. A Scotland-wide rally in Glasgow on 9 May follows the local events.

Details for the Aberdeen march, including the start point and time, are still to be confirmed. We’ll update this article as soon as they are announced.