Activists smash glass surrounding William Wallace's sword
Activists have targeted William Wallace's sword in Stirling
Last updated 2nd Mar 2023
Two climate activists have smashed the glass surrounding William Wallace's sword at the Wallace monument in Stirling.
The incident happened this morning (March 2) around 11:30am.
The pair represent the group 'This is rigged', they say the action was to demand the Scottish Government vocally opposes all new fossil fuel projects in Scotland and fully funds a transition plan for oil workers into new jobs.
This action follows a series of disruptions at First Ministers Questions by the Scottish Climate Movement and allied groups - who interrupted parliament with the same demand
They smashed the glass with a rock that read “YOUR LIBERTIES WERE WON BY THE SWORD, YOUR RIGHTS WERE WON BY THE SUFFRAGETTES, WE MUST ONCE AGAIN FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, NO NEW FOSSIL FUELS AND A FAIR TRANSITION NOW” in a reference to the 1912 action by Suffragette Ethel Moorhead.
In a press release from the group:
"I'm doing this because we need to be brave to change the corrupt system threatening our lives and driving Scots into poverty. I'm not willing to watch things get worse every year of my life with climate breakdown, I'm sending a clear message to our Government that we won't wait patiently anymore, enough is enough.
"111 years ago the suffragettes stood in this very spot to stand up for their rights and freedom, 600 years before that William Wallace defended our freedom with this very sword. Now it is time for us to stand up for our rights too."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report of damage to a glass case at the Wallace Monument, Hillfoots Road, Stirling, around noon on Thursday, 2 March, 2023.
“Officers attended and a man and a woman have been arrested in connection and enquiries are ongoing.”