Our Republic

The organisation was formed in 2021 by activists from a mix of Scottish political parties from members with roots in Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Lithuania.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19257252.fighting-scottish-republic---royal-scandals-highlight-problems-monarchies/|title=Fighting for a Scottish republic – royal scandals highlight problems of monarchies|last=Paterson|first=Kirsteen|date=25 April 2021|work=The National|accessdate=3 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,after-the-reign-what-next-for-the-royal-family|title=After the reign: What next for the Royal family?|date=28 February 2022|last=Wilson|first=Louise|work=Holyrood|accessdate=3 June 2022}} The following year it was revealed by polling that Scottish support for the monarchy stood at 45%.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/15/scottish-support-for-monarchy-falls-to-45-poll-reveals|title=Scottish support for monarchy falls to 45%, poll reveals|last=Savage|first=Michael|date=15 May 2022|work=The Guardian|accessdate=3 June 2022}}

Our Republic is a political campaign for a Scottish republic calling for the abolition of the monarchy.{{cite web |last=Kalisch |first=Muriel |date=12 September 2022 |title=Was Queen Elizabeths Tod für Schottlands Unabhängigkeit bedeutet |url=https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/queen-elizabeth-ii-was-ihr-tod-fuer-schottlands-unabhaengigkeit-bedeutet-a-aa1dc045-09f8-46ce-83d0-b7eb260ef5b2 |url-access=subscription |accessdate=14 September 2022 |work=Der Spiegel |language=German}}

The organisation launched a petition to call for the political oaths sworn by Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to be made to the Scottish people rather than the monarchy, after several MSPs said that they were taking the oath under protest. The petition was backed by MSP Emma Roddick and Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/3312475/should-msps-pledge-allegiance-to-the-queen-new-petition-calls-for-holyrood-oaths-to-be-changed/|title=Should MSPs pledge allegiance to The Queen? New petition calls for Holyrood oaths to be changed|last=Amery|first=Rachel|date=24 March 2022|work=The Press and Journal|accessdate=3 June 2022}}

Our Republic expressed solidarity with calls in Jamaica for the United Kingdom to apologise for the monarchy's historic role in the slave trade, and for Jamaica's plans to abolish the monarchy and become a republic.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20019304.scottish-republicans-wish-jamaica-best-luck/|title=Scottish republicans wish Jamaica 'best of luck' in abolishing monarchy|last=Bell|first=Sean|date=15 July 2022|work=The National|accessdate=3 June 2022}}

The organisation planned an anti-monarchy rally to coincide with Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee on 4 June 2022 on Calton Hill, Edinburgh,{{cite news|url=https://bright-green.org/2022/05/21/republicans-plan-anti-monarchy-rally-to-coincide-with-the-queens-platinum-jubilee/|title=Republicans plan anti-monarchy rally to coincide with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee|last=Jarvis|first=Chris|date=21 May 2022|publisher=Bright Green|accessdate=3 June 2022}} with MP Tommy Sheppard speaking.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20176454.edinburgh-rally-offer-republican-alternative-jubilee-scotland/|title=Edinburgh rally to offer a republican alternative to Jubilee Scotland|last=Bell|first=Sean|date=30 May 2022|work=The National|accessdate=3 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61687333|title=Platinum Jubilee: Flotilla among Scotland's weekend celebrations|date=4 June 2022|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=4 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00185jq/reporting-scotland-evening-news-04062022|title=Reporting Scotland Evening News: 04/06/2022|date=4 June 2022|publisher=BBC iPlayer|accessdate=4 June 2022}}

Ahead of the Accession declaration of Charles III at Mercat cross in Edinburgh on 11 September 2022, the organisation stated: "We encourage those with objections to these proclamations to make those clear".{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/21272984.two-breach-peace-arrests-made-amid-king-charless-edinburgh-proclamation/|title=Two breach of the peace arrests made amid King Charles's Edinburgh proclamation|last=Garton-Crosbie|first=Abbi|date=11 September 2022|work=The National|accessdate=12 September 2022}} The members voiced their opposition to the new King through booing, turning their backs and shouting "no consent",{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/queen-elizabeth-live-updates-king-charles-coffin-balmoral-edinburgh-rcna47187#rcrd4467|title=Anti-monarchists in Scotland turn their backs on king's proclamation|last=Smith|first=Alexander|date=11 September 2022|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=12 September 2022}} and holding up anti-monarchy slogans during the Lord Lyon King of Arms's declaration. The protest made global headlines.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/21328662.republic-makes-global-headlines-edinburgh-anti-monarchy-protest-arrest/|title=Our Republic makes global headlines after Edinburgh anti-monarchy protest arrest|last=Elliards|first=Xander|date=12 September 2022|work=The National|accessdate=14 September 2022|url-access=subscription}} They were briefly detained by Police Scotland before being released.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/21273249.protesters-edinburgh-boo-proclamation-king-charles-iii/|title=Protesters in Edinburgh boo proclamation of King Charles III|last=Learmonth|first=Andrew|date=11 September 2022|work=The Herald|accessdate=12 September 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/11/republican-protesters-arrested-king-charles-proclamation-events|title=Republican protesters arrested at King Charles proclamations|last=Siddique|first=Haroon|date=11 September 2022|work=The Guardian|accessdate=12 September 2022}} One protester was later again arrested and charged under "Breach of the Peace".{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/woman-arrested-edinburgh-after-protester-27964305|title=Woman arrested in Edinburgh after protester holds anti-monarchy sign|last1=Frodsham|first1=Isobel|last2=Love|first2=Lynn|date=11 September 2022|work=Daily Record|accessdate=12 September 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/11/woman-arrested-after-holding-abolish-monarchy-sign-in-edinburgh-17351692/|title=Woman arrested after holding 'abolish monarchy' sign in Edinburgh|last=Mills|first=Jen|date=11 September 2022|work=Metro|accessdate=12 September 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-09-11/woman-arrested-after-protester-holds-anti-monarchy-sign-in-edinburgh|title=Woman arrested after protester holds anti-monarchy sign in Edinburgh|date=11 September 2022|publisher=ITV News|accessdate=12 September 2022}} Our Republic raised concerns of freedom of expression in response to the charges.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/varlden/skotska-republikaner-vadrar-morgonluft-med-charles-som-kung/|title=Skotska republikaner vädrar morgonluft med Charles som kung|date=12 September 2022|work=Dagens Nyheter|accessdate=14 September 2022|language=Swedish|url-access=subscription}}

In February 2023, Charles offered to allow people who "cannot afford to heat their homes" to use two of his Scottish properties—Dumfries House in Ayrshire and the Castle of Mey in Caithness—to keep warm for one day a week.{{cite news |last=Smillie |first=Abi |date=3 February 2023 |title=King Charles to open Dumfries House doors to be used as a 'warm space' |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/king-charles-throw-open-doors-29123790 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Daily Record |language=en}} Our Republic convener Tristan Gray responded by saying: "A cynical person may see this as little more than a token PR stunt instead of any sort of genuine attempt to help people who are suffering at this time, especially coming on the heels of both he and his son visiting a food bank without bringing food, despite being more than able to and especially when he has demanded a flamboyantly golden coronation he may wish to try and deflect criticism from."{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23300470.king-charles-warm-spaces-will-seen-token-pr-stunt/|title=King Charles' 'warm spaces' will be seen as 'token PR stunt'|last=Brawn|first=Steph|date=5 February 2023|work=The National|accessdate=5 February 2023}}

Our Republic protested against Charles III's coronation on 6 May 2023, with a rally on Calton Hill in Edinburgh.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65507435|title=Dozens of protesters arrested during Coronation|author=Adam Durbin & Daniel Sandford|work=BBC News |date=6 May 2023|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{cite news|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/kings-coronation-10-photos-as-edinburgh-anti-monarchy-protest-takes-place-on-calton-hill-4133181|title=10 photos as protesters gather for anti-monarchy rally in Edinburgh during coronation|first=Ginny|last=Sanderson|date=6 May 2023|website=Edinburgh News}} Speakers at the rally included politicians Tommy Sheppard, Maggie Chapman and Lorna Slater as well as several activists from social and political groups such as the Scottish Socialist Party.

During the service of thanksgiving organised in Edinburgh for Charles III on 5 July 2023, Our Republic organised a rally outside the Scottish Parliament, attended by Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66095611|title=Scottish Green leaders to snub King's cathedral ceremony|work=BBC News |date=4 July 2023|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

• Republic
• Republicanism in the United Kingdom
• Scottish republicanism

{{Reflist}}

• [https://ourrepublic.scot/ Our Republic] - official website
• {{Twitter|id=OurRepublicScot|name=Our Republic}}

{{Republicanism}}

Category:2021 establishments in Scotland

Category:Political campaigns in the United Kingdom

Category:Politics of Scotland

Category:Scottish republicanism