please empty your brain below
Anyone else go?

diamond geezer | Homepage | 24.03.19 - 9:00 a.m. | #

Yes, I did, although I bailed out of the march at St James’s because I was tired - it’s amazing how walking slowly takes it out of you - hungry and had something to go to in the evening. A very accurate summary. My favourite placard was “It’s Sarries v Quins today. I’m here. That’s how angry I am”.

Baldassaro | 24.03.19 - 9:12 a.m. | #

Yep. It took us over two hours from our muster point (near the Dorchester) to actually make it into Piccadilly. Crowd was immense.
Do I think Mrs May will listen? Probably not. But I had to make a point.
And it was fabulous to see a march without the rent a mob from Socialist Worker.

IslandDweller | 24.03.19 - 9:15 a.m. | #

Yes - we both went. I went because I know we are better off in the EU - but I would have accepted leaving if the last 3 years had been used to put proper withdrawal plans in place rather than hyperbolic bickering & 'Little England' grandstanding.

Now we've seen the incompetence of our leaders (all parties) laid bare, I think we should reconsider our options in another vote.

steve | 24.03.19 - 9:21 a.m. | #

I know around a dozen people who went, not a group, individuals or couples, all travelling from before dawn yesterday to get to London. None of them politically active normally. Just frustrated about being constantly ignored or - at best - dismissed as not being "the people".

Nick Atty | Homepage | 24.03.19 - 9:25 a.m. | #

Anyone not go, but feel the need to make a general comment anyway? comments (18)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 24.03.19 - 9:30 a.m. | #

I couldn't make the main part of the march, but caught up with some stragglers towards the end.

David @DTL | Homepage | 24.03.19 - 9:44 a.m. | #

I got halfway down Park Lane with the march, but my bladder decided it was time to go, and I had to dash back to John Lewis to find the loo. Made it just in time. Such a nice respectable middle class gathering. Not a single broken shop window - just compare that to the yellow-jackets in Paris...

Alex McKenna | 24.03.19 - 10:10 a.m. | #

Yes, I was there. How can anyone think leaving is still a good idea?

Person Who Was There | 24.03.19 - 10:33 a.m. | #

I was there and walked the entire route with a few detours. I was impressed by the organisation, big screens, etc., amused by the placards and the vibe was good. But I felt quite upset throughout because it was so polite to be pointless, and it felt like 'too little too late' and most likely largely futile.

Still, we made a statement just by being there. What a shame that nobody with influence is likely to be influenced by it.

Other observations: attendees seemed to be 85-90% white, and therefore unrepresentative of London; there was an impressive number of young people but the majority I saw were female; where were the guys?

Frank F | 24.03.19 - 10:41 a.m. | #

I dragged my politically apathetic teenagers along with me this time. We joined the march a couple of hours in at Trafalgar Square - there was no way I'd get them all the way round - and got halfway along Whitehall before the crowd solidified and people started turning back and off down side streets. There was no chance of getting to Parliament Square.

It struck me after I'd got home that this demonstration was quite a bit larger than the East German ones that brought down the Berlin Wall. A journalist friend who interviewed some of the organizers of those Berlin demonstrations at the time said it was much the same sort of people involved, too; earnest, genuine, fed up to their back teeth with their morally bankrupt rulers, and determined to work peacefully for a better future.

Claire | 24.03.19 - 11:44 a.m. | #

Yes. I felt I had to go to make a point, as IslandDweller said.

The evening before I met a German who is renting a flat in London who told me that he has planted the garden, but only with veg, nothing perennial, because he sees his stay as temporary.

Bob L-S | 24.03.19 - 1:01 p.m. | #

my son went ... he was very pleased he went although he gave up when he hit a total log-jam ... he said what a fabulous atmosphere ... he's under no illusions how much notice those in power will take but he strongly felt the need to make his views known

I didn't go, being disabled and needing to use a mobility scooter I couldn't figure out the logistics of how to get there and back which is a shame

Caz | 24.03.19 - 1:01 p.m. | #

I was there with my camera, but too diffident/sceptical about the impact actually to join the throng, especially since I couldn't dream up anything impressive to say about the whole sorry mess. (I'd be very doubtful about whether any of the options proposed would really get up enough head of steam behind it to have any real legitimacy, since we'd likely be as bitterly divided after as before).

Autolycus | Homepage | 24.03.19 - 1:28 p.m. | #

I went.

Jonathan | 24.03.19 - 2:04 p.m. | #

I went. I felt a duty to.

Madison | 24.03.19 - 2:59 p.m. | #

Been thinking further about the participants on the march.

Although I'm sure people were present for a variety of different reasons, I think that many just wanted to make a statement that the debate and those making the decisions do not reflect the sort of Britain that they want - an open compassionate country, positive towards collaboration with our neighbours. In the words I heard and read, most seemed to be saying "Not in my name".

Frank F | 24.03.19 - 3:14 p.m. | #

Reminder:
Comments by people who didn't go are here.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 24.03.19 - 4:28 p.m. | #

I was there too representing my family from across the country, with a group of about 12 friends. We met at Hyde Park Corner and joined the procession close to the Theresa May caracature. It took about 2 hours to get to Green Park Station! Eventually in Whitehall, we planned to exit over Westminster Bridge but the area beyond Downing St was closed, so had to double back - not so easy as the slowly flowing crowd included many child buggies!
It was splendidly peaceful. Strangers talked with each other - in London! Britons have been brought together in adversity.

Andrew-R | 24.03.19 - 6:44 p.m. | #

Add me to the list of marching protesters, or more like shuffling sceptics. All very friendly, and nice to know there are still plenty of others who think leaving the EU in any form is plain destructive and daft. Glad we went to make up the million.

ActonMan | 24.03.19 - 7:27 p.m. | #

I was there, with friends. It felt important to make a point. A very large number of people disagree fundamentally with the newly hostile approach to Europe, and we want a chance to re-think.

ChrisMitch | 24.03.19 - 7:51 p.m. | #

Three hours from the edge of Park Lane to Green Park. Then I had to shear off to cook for a dinner party. Lots of amusing slogans on the placards, in Cornish, featuring many unicorn jokes of the gentler sort. I think my faves were "I am British. I am on a march. Things must be going very badly." and "Pulling Out Doesn't Work!"

Scott_in_London | 24.03.19 - 10:44 p.m. | #

I was there. I could name 30 friends who went too.

John B | 24.03.19 - 11:59 p.m. | #

I was there and went to Tate Britain after the rally as did hundreds of other people.

ganching | Homepage | 25.03.19 - 7:46 a.m. | #

We went on Saturday (and to the previous 2). Took 5 hours to get to Whitehall from 2/3rds up Park Lane. Not as noisy as the first 2 marches. Very friendly bunch of people though, lots of families. Best sign probably "the peasants are Revolting, they'd rather be Revoting".

Richard | 25.03.19 - 8:22 a.m. | #

I went. After diversions through Hyde Park, Green Park, and the Embankment, I finally reached Parliament Square just in time to hear Richard Bacon saying it was over. I hope the speeches were good, and that someone listens.
Favourite signs that I remember: "So bad, even introverts are here". Also, "I planned this sign better than the Tories planned the refere".

Sally | 25.03.19 - 8:26 a.m. | #

We were there DG. didn't you see us? We were the people with a flag!
(And perhaps came on the same bus as 'Island' dweller)

People Who Were There | 25.03.19 - 8:56 a.m. | #

Yes, I was there. You were lucky to get to Parliament Square! After 4 hours I bailed out in Whitehall, having just about glimpsed some speakers on the giant display screen by Horse Guards, but couldn't hear a thing.

Very friendly, as ever.

Ian Brooker | 25.03.19 - 9:57 a.m. | #

I got into Parliament Square by taking the tube to Waterloo and walking in over Westminster Bridge.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 25.03.19 - 10:04 a.m. | #

I went but didn't last that long due to being feeble. However I can say I went. I enjoyed the very wide spectrum of people from across the country, what surprised me was how quiet it all was

Simon G | 25.03.19 - 11:23 a.m. | #

I went. Didn't walk the whole route as I was carrying one or other of my heavy children all the way. I gave the five-year-old a brief explanation of what the march was about in terms she might understand - people being unhappy with what the Government was doing. The next day she asked 'Why was everyone so happy?'

I guess it felt better to be doing something than nothing. It was a beautiful day. And good to be among people who felt the same. I hope it made a difference and I would do it again.

Aline | 25.03.19 - 11:48 a.m. | #

Yep, we went. Massive turnout. Bailed at Trafalgar Square after 3 hours marching (walking).

Jonathan Dunne | 25.03.19 - 2:07 p.m. | #

I went but because of the numbers & slow movement only got as far as Florence Nightingale's statue in Pall Mall before seeing the "Thank you for coming, have a safe journey home" on the illuminated poster.

RogerTCB | 26.03.19 - 11:12 p.m. | #











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