Reflections on a remarkable day in Elgin
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A'BODY'S welcome.
Also spelt aabody– a Doric word meaning everybody.
Two words on a discarded placard in a flower tub.
While I wouldn't generally condone littering of a community floral display, on this occasion I am prepared to overlook that 'offence', as it perfectly sums up the overwhelming mood from last Saturday's remarkable events in the centre of Elgin.
Moray is a welcoming place and it was reassuring to see so many people backing its support of asylum seekers and refugees.
Credit goes to Moray Trades Union Council for organising a peaceful rally at the front of St Giles Church to deliver a resounding message that Moray opens its arms to people in need of support.
They wanted to counter a planned event at the other side of the church by far right group, Highland Division, which had invited controversial figure Alek Yerbury to town to speak following up to 50 asylum seekers being housed in a hotel in Elgin.
As it turned out, Mr Yerbury, a former soldier with extreme views on controlling the UK's borders, was not able to air them publicly as he was drowned out every time he tried to speak by anti-fascism protestors.
MTUC distanced themselves from this protest, which sprung up from various quarters and although very noisy was, in the main part, peaceful but in a forceful, in-your-face kind of way.
Not that MTUC did not share the same displeasure at Yerbury's previously stated opinions on asylum seekers and refugees, but simply because it felt it distracted from their main message of positivity towards those very people that Moray is trying to support and offer hope to.
People travelled from as far afield as Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee to face up to Yerbury and his small group of colleagues.
It was a shame that this side of the church probably detracted in large measure from the speakers and messages at the other side, however, it was understandable that people wanted to shout down Yerbury, who holds extreme views which most normal folk would not share.
Far right group drowned out by protest
It would have been better if no-one had been there to listen to or shout down the far right group, when they would have been faced with preaching to thin air, as the angry – albeit understandable and non-violent – reaction Yerbury and his followers got was probably exactly what they were hoping for.
There was one arrest for "low level disorder", according to the senior police officer in charge of a large police presence described it.
Yerbury escorted away by police officers
The scale of the police operation, while necessary as things turned out, was quite incredible to witness in the centre of Elgin.
I am a football fan and have been in tribal atmospheres where police are required to separate rival factions, so I am not naive in that sense, or easily shocked.
However, in nearly 30 years of working for The Northern Scot, it was one of the most bizarre days in my local journalism career, and not one I would wish to see repeated in a hurry.
There will always be debates and discussions – and differing views – to be had on how best to support people fleeing persecution and discrimination in their own country, and the practical process to do that, but that has to be done in a civilized fashion which respects their rights and emotions as human beings.
A'body's welcome!
