24 March
A huge number of people have taken to the streets of London to demand a second referendum on whether the United Kingdom should leave the European Union.
People wanting the country to remain in the bloc marched through the British capital on Saturday. Protesters included Labour, Conservative and independent MPs. Rally organizers estimated that more than 1 million people turned out for the march. That surpassed a similar demonstration held in October, when about 700,000 people showed up.
Demonstrators carried EU flags and placards, one of which read "We demand a People's Vote." They moved past the prime minister's office and residence on Downing Street, chanting calls for cancelling Brexit. One marcher said the sheer size of the rally expresses people's anger. A former Brexiteer said he changed his mind after he learned there is no way to leave the EU without causing chaos.
Prime Minister Theresa May rules out holding a second referendum, saying the outcome of the 2016 referendum must be respected. People in the UK voted to leave the EU in the poll. May now seems ready to put her withdrawal deal with the EU to another vote in the House of Commons.
The lower chamber has already rejected the deal twice, forcing the prime minister to ask EU leaders to extend the Brexit deadline of March 29.—NHK
