sv podcast – the counter-protest

Welcome to our latest ‘small voice’ special feature – where our roving reporter, Margaret, finds people and organisations which are small but make a big difference.

Margaret says, “Protests against asylum seekers seemed to be on the rise over the summer of 2025, but they were all in far away places – until a protest arrived in Central Scotland, on my own doorstep. There were no riots but a lot of shouting and flag waving. However, there was also a counter-protest, also with flags and a number of cardboard signs with the general message that ‘refugees are welcome here’.”

Margaret decided to find out the background to the counter protest, which included a number of Quakers holding the banner ‘Quakers for Peace’.She discovered that the story of the organisation Friends of Scottlsh Settlers, or FoSS, which is part of the counter protest, goes back much further than the arrival of the asylum seekers in Falkirk, and spoke to Jessica and Cath about their involvement.

Links
Friends of Scottish Settlers
Scottish Refugee Council
Photo of counter protest (c) The National

This podcast interview was recorded in September 2025. Theme music by Nicolai Heidlas. Available from Apple Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, and via your favourite podcast App. Duration: 26’12 minutes.

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