Demonstrators gathered at a “March for Europe” rally in London to protest the results of the June 23 referendum in which 52 percent voted in favor of leaving the European Union. Carrying signs reading “Bremain,” “We Love the EU,” “Un-Fuck My Future,” and “Fromage not Farage,” protesters chanted “Hell no, we won’t go” as they marched. The demonstrators were often accompanied by music, with two songs in particular playing on repeat: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley and Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You.
Some of the approximately 35,000 protesters said they were still holding out hope that the government wouldn’t actually go through with the threat of leaving the EU. And many expressed anger at what they described as lies in the referendum campaign. Others, however, said that while they had no choice but to accept the results, they also said they wanted their voices to be heard. “We have to accept it,” Brian Walters told the Washington Post. “But we don’t have to like it. We can’t just go away.”
People protest against Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, in central London on July 2, 2016.
Paul Hackett/Reuters
Demonstrators marched for two miles before gathering in front of Parliament to listen to several speakers, including members of parliament and musician Bob Geldof. Pulp singer Jarvis Crocker recorded a video message to express his solidarity with the protesters. “You cannot deny geography,” he said. “The U.K. is in Europe.”
In addition to anger about the campaign and the vote, many expressed frustration there hasn’t been clear leadership after the results. Still, despite all the anger the protest itself was rather calm and peaceful. The BBC’s Martha Buckley describes the scene: “There is barely an organizer 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.”
