Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The “March for Europe” rally was organised on social media
Thousands of people are marching through London to protest against the referendum decision to leave the EU.
Demonstrators at the “March for Europe” rally, which was organised on social media, are holding placards saying “Bremain” and “We Love EU”.
More than 46.5 million people voted in the referendum on 23 June, which resulted in the UK voting by 51.9% to 49.1% to withdraw from the EU.
But critics said that those who lost the vote were “having a tantrum”.
Demonstrators gathered around Park Lane before setting off for Parliament Square. A rally is also taking place in York.
March organiser Keiran MacDermott said protesters hoped to stop the government from triggering Article 50, which begins the formal process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
At the end of the two-mile route, protesters gathered in front of the Houses of Parliament, and listened to speakers including Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, leftwing commentator and activist Owen Jones, and musician Bob Geldof.
Mr Geldof urged Remain campaigners to take to the streets, speak to their neighbours and work to stop the UK’s exit from the EU.
“We need to individually organise ourselves. Organise those around us and do everything possible within our individual power to stop this country being totally destroyed,” he said.
‘Frustration’
Among the crowd was Tom North, from Norfolk, who was marching with his family.
“I’m here because I feel the country has been conned into voting for something that will turn out a disaster. I’m particularly concerned about the effect it will have on scientific research,” he said.
His son Ace North, 34, from Oxford said: “I was able to do my PHD in an EU country thanks to being in the EU so I feel quite passionate about it.”
Fellow protester Mark Thomas said the referendum campaign “was full of misinformation and people need to do something with their frustration”.
By Martha Buckley, BBC News
There is no official turn-out figure for this protest but there must be several thousand at least on the streets around Hyde Park corner.
There are whole families here as well as the young, the middle-aged, the elderly, British, European, Londoners, as well as those who have travelled from further afield.
The protest has been organised hastily, with a call put out on social media less than a week ago. Today many of those who spent the week sharing anti-Brexit memes online have turned up to voice their concerns in person.
There are placards, signs and banners aplenty expressing anger and resentment at the way the Leave campaign was conducted but also frustration at what’s seen as a lack of clear leadership in the aftermath of the vote.
There is barely an organiser in sight and what police presence there is is very low-key – but this outpouring of feeling is also quintessentially British: Calm, polite and orderly.
Laura Honickberg, 33, from London, said she was concerned that the vote would lead to a rise in violence and hate crime.
“I’m Jewish and I find the rise of nationalism and hate crime in Europe deeply concerning,” she told the BBC.
She added that she felt the Leave campaign “was based on lies, about money that was going to go to the NHS and now isn’t, about what’s going to happen to the economy. These are things that are going to directly impact me.”
BBC