march for europe - london - saturday 2nd july

[xmasadsboohiss]

www.facebook.com/events/1732671000335981/

Tim Farron was there

Am pmsl at the 'where's boris?' Wally spoof. And Murdoch. Hilarious! You really get a sense of the british wit at these things

Yes the Where's Boris one was great! Here is the other Boris one that was next to it:

Loving these it sounds wonderful

We loved it too. Took 5 & 8yos.

I didn't have a sign but will make one for next weeks when I will be child free and therefore hands free.

We were towards the back. The 2 crowd shots show both ways on Piccadilly.

Next week's?

What's planned for next week?

I was there with DW and a toddler. Great atmosphere, loads of other families and kids there, zero trouble. Again the dark warnings of trouble are proven to be wrong. Only nice people go on marches like this!

Next week:

www.facebook.com/events/1069371669820838/

How many remain voting fascist anarchists does it take to cause a riot?

More than 40,000 clearly - lovely peaceful, family friendly atmosphere with zero bad feeling. We all enjoyed it immensely.

Well that's good then, least it was useful for something.

Vulcan I've lived and worked here for years and now suddenly, as a result of the Brexit vote, Teresa May is saying my status and that of 3 million other EU nationals in this country is uncertain. In my position would you not feel the need to make some form of peaceful protest? Saturday's march wasn't just a family day out in the sun - Remain voters have legitimate reasons to fear what lies ahead.

No, I would decide whether I wanted to become a British Citizen or not.
As far as I can see protesting is like flogging a dead horse.

No, I would decide whether I wanted to become a British Citizen or not.

Gaining adult citizenship of any country is an extensive, expensive process. There are detailed residence requirements (for example: 6 years' continuous presence, no more than 450 days out of the country overall, plus no more than 90 days out in previous year), plus tests, biometrics, endless documentation (often needing state-approved translation or validation), and application fees (I think £1000+ for UK citizenship?). It's a big deal and a massive change for people who've been using EU freedom of movement.

Go to the Living Overseas board and see the equivalent concerns Brexit has given UK expats in Europe. Don't minimize the uncertainty about future rights to reside that this has caused for so many families.

Why do people like Vulcan feel it necessary to come on here and object? Do they feel threatened by the right of peaceful protest?

Gaining adult citizenship of any country is an extensive, expensive process. There are detailed residence requirements (for example: 6 years' continuous presence, no more than 450 days out of the country overall, plus no more than 90 days out in previous year), plus tests, biometrics, endless documentation (often needing state-approved translation or validation), and application fees (I think £1000+ for UK citizenship?). It's a big deal and a massive change for people who've been using EU freedom of movement. Fair enough if you don't think it's worth it.

Why do people like Vulcan feel it necessary to come on here and object? Do they feel threatened by the right of peaceful protest? For the same reasons why remainers comments on the out threads.

Could be worse, JudyCoolibar. At least she didn't start an entire thread purely to mock the march, then get increasingly nasty when people posted photos of amusing signs; post her own picture of someone holding a 'old white people please die' sign to show that Saturday's protest was full of extremists; get caught out (picture wasn't from the march at all); react with quiet dignity by calling me a 'tinfoil hat wearer' and throwing around batshit counter-accusations.

In contrast to that shit, someone merely suggesting that peaceful protest is a bit silly seems fair enough!

Why do people like Vulcan feel it necessary to come on here and object? Do they feel threatened by the right of peaceful protest?

Maybe because it's a free world and people have the right to say what they want within the MNHQ guidelines.

I voted remain however there are plenty of examples of those that voted remain going onto 'leave' threads and disrailing them.

Fair enough if you don't think it's worth it.

Paying more than a thousand pounds, completing several tests and undergoing a bureaucratic process that's like a first passport application on steroids -- for the privilege of continuing to live securely in a country where you've already been residing and paying taxes for years? Reminds me of that Peep Show quote about replacing the boiler:

Surely the least enjoyable way to spend a thousand pounds... I have spent a cool grand on acquiring the resumption of an equitable temperature.

Gaining citizenship is, and should be, a big deal. But as long as we were in the EU, people within the union could move and settle with relative security without this, and they've built up careers and raised families under the assumption this right would continue. Now that's all up for change. Fine if you think that's good, but you don't need to act like those directly affected should make no fuss whatsoever and cheerfully cough up a grand if they want to stay.

Also I think it's fair to point out that, the money aside, taking on additional citizenship is an emotional leap for a lot of people especially if they have spent so many years here already. For those who argue 'Well it works like that in X, Y, Z country' fair enough. The point is for my entire lifetime it hasn't worked liked that in the EU so I think I'm allowed to feel a bit taken aback by it!

It's all beginning to feel a little bit like 'this is Britain for British people and the rest of you put up or shut up'. I, for one, feel as if I have the rug pulled right out from under me!

(Very interesting discussion about this on R4 right now -- possibility of EU citizens' rights in UK being used as a 'bargaining chip' to protect rights of UK citizens living in the EU: reciprocal agreements etc. But it's all still up in the air.)

X-post. Please remember 48% didn't want the rug pulled at all! No 'put up or shut up' here.

ARum thanks! I do realise that there are loads of people out there just as unhappy as I am about this. But the discussions in the media feel so odd at the moment - it's as if you're not British you're not part of the conversation. 'We're talking ABOUT you, not TO you'. V strange feeling indeed.

Friends, there is another Anti-Brexit event, this time a family picnic with facilitation. See www.facebook.com/events/1069371669820838/