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| Demonstrators take part in a Unite for Europe march, as they head towards Parliament Square, in central London |
Thousands of people marched through London on Saturday to protest against Britain leaving the European Union, just four days before Prime Minister Theresa May launches the start of the formal divorce process from the bloc it joined 44 years ago.
The Unite for Europe march was due to end with a rally in Parliament Square, scene of this weekโs attack by British-born Islam convert Khalid Masood in which four people died.
Marchers observed a minuteโs silence in memory of the victims at the start of the demonstration.
In bright sunshine, they waved EU flags and banners with slogans like โSo whatโs the Planโ and โStop Brexitโ as they made their way to parliament.
One banner from a marcher in Hastings on the south coast โ scene of Englandโs epoch-defining defeat to William, Duke of Normandy โ read: โHastings, in Europe since 1066.โ
Another simply said โHappy Birthday EUโ in a reference to this weekendโs 60th anniversary of the blocโs founding, currently being commemorated in Rome.
Joss Dennis was one of three coach loads of protesters who had travelled from Bristol in western England, which voted 62 percent to stay in the EU in last Juneโs referendum compared with the national 52-48 percent vote to leave.
โWith such a close vote, I donโt see how anyone can call this the will of the people,โ she told Reuters. โWe have so much to lose: environmentally, politically and financially.
โA terrible mistake has been made but the situation is not beyond redemption,โ she added.
May has been adamant she intends to take Britain out of the EU following the referendum and will formally announce the start of the two-year leaving process on Wednesday.
