150,000 expected on ‘People’s March for Europe’ and Brexit protest rally in Parliament Square
Campaigners ready for People's March and rally in Parliament Square. Picture: Bruce Tanner - Credit: People's March organisers
Protesters against ‘Brexit’ from all over east London join tomorrow’s ‘People’s March for Europe’ and mass rally in Westminster.
Sir Bob Geldof, outspoken Pro-EU and civil rights campaigner, heads the list of 23 distinguished speakers starting 1.30pm in Parliament Square.
Organisers expect more people turning out than the last rally on March 25 when 120,000 people marched to Parliament.
Groups in the East London Pro-European Network—many campaigning for a second referendum—join tomorrow’s march starting 12noon from Curzon Gate in Park Lane, winding its way down through Trafalgar Square and Whitehall to Parliament Square.
The groups are arriving from Mile End, the Isle of Dogs, Hackney, Stratford, East Ham, Barking, Walthamstow and even from the Romford-Havering ‘Brexit stronghold’.
“We are pushing for a second referendum,” East London network co-ordinator Martin Houseden said.
“We firmly believe the UK is better off in the EU and don’t want to see the erosion of civil rights for future generations.”
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MPs vote in the Commons on Monday on the Parliamentary timetable for the EU Withdrawal Bill. The protesters say Theresa May’s government is allowing just eight days to scrutinise “one of the most important Bills in British history”.
The Bill puts at risk “all the rights and protections accumulated over 40 years of EU membership” in a fraction of the time allotted for debate about European treaties in the past.
Tomorrow’s march passes the No 10 ‘Brexit Circus’ Vigil which resumed at 6pm tonight opposite Downing Street after Parliament returned from the summer recess.
Its coordinator Dianne Datsun said: “We don’t believe Brexit is a done deal—it can be reversed.
“The tide of public opinion is shifting as more issues come to light. It’s clear the public is re-thinking its position on Brexit which will push the country into economic decline.
“There were no ‘terms of exit’ in last year’s referendum because the quitters didn’t expect to win.”
Two giant screens are being erected for the three-hour rally, with 22 speakers joining Geldof including MPs, MEPs, campaign activists, industry leaders, church figures and lawyers.