Tens of thousands protest Brexit

  • 10/09/2017

Tens of thousands of protestors turned out in opposition to Brexit on Saturday (UK time), in what was one of the largest marches yet against Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

But a plea for unity and communication between those who voted to leave, and those who want to remain in the EU was a key message from a speech on the day.

Addressing the crowd, Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey described his emotions as moving from "anger to distress, from fury to despair and then to embarrassment" at the Brexit negotiations, the Guardian reported.

Brexit opponents were told they needed to "listen and understand" to those who voted to leave, and wait on referendums that may occur on any proposed deals.

Mr Davey said the odds were even more stacked against them.

"We need to be a unifying force and that means we need to listen to the other side. We need to understand where they come from and listen in a way that heals the wounds and reunites our country."

Other speakers were rowdier in approach, calling for more protests as legislation goes through parliament.

Organisers estimated at least 50,000 protesters marched through central London to Parliament Square.

Conservative peer Patience Wheatcroft told demonstrators to keep fighting to remain and said history was on their side. She said Brexit would mean fewer jobs and a less prosperous country.

"It's not undemocratic to persuade the electorate to think again about Brexit. That's democracy at work."

The organisers said leaving the EU "no longer holds credibility inside Westminster, let alone on the streets of Britain".

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