Thousands of people have taken to the streets across the UK to protest against Boris Johnson and his right-wing government’s attack on democracy.
Stop the coup!
On 28 August, Johnson asked the queen to suspend parliament. Now, as we hurtle towards the Brexit deadline on 31 October, MPs only have two short windows to either secure a Brexit deal or to pass a new one. The process of ending a parliamentary session is formally called proroguing parliament.
Critics, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, believe it’s an attempt to force through a no-deal Brexit. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has described it as a “coup”.
Protests were called across the country for Saturday 31 August to “Defend democracy. Resist the parliament shutdown”. These protests were called because: “we can’t just rely on the courts or parliamentary process to save the day”.
So on 31 August, thousands of people gathered in London:
Stop the COUP!!! STOP THE COUP!!! Amazing!!! Look at this!!! @OwenJones84 pic.twitter.com/WmoD4Yecq4
— ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) August 31, 2019
LOOK AT THIS 😍@BorisJohnson, you can't claim to represent the will of the people. We didn't vote for you and you don't speak for us.
Together, we will bring down this government. #StopTheCoup #BorisOutpic.twitter.com/BfzkCdQmT1
— Another Europe is Possible 🧡 (@Another_Europe) August 31, 2019
Speakers included Labour’s Diane Abbott:
https://twitter.com/HaringeyLU/status/1167761120679141376
Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner also spoke out:
“What we are seeing is naked aggression by a ‘Brexit Elite’ against the people of this country” @BarryGardiner “I am getting a new sleeping bag” @DawnButlerBrent on parliament Bring Prorogued and occupying the green benches pic.twitter.com/MXazACvjp2
— ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) August 31, 2019
With an aim to cause as much disruption as possible, some people also blocked Westminster Bridge:
#DefendOurDemocracy #StopTheCoup
Westminster Bridge blocked pic.twitter.com/4zoN9LwcxT— Michael Cubey (@michaelcubey) August 31, 2019
“Smash and grab raid on our democracy”
Corbyn, meanwhile, thanked those who protested in Glasgow and criticised Johnson’s “smash and grab raid on our democracy”:
I thank everyone who has taken to the streets here in Glasgow and across the whole country to oppose Boris Johnson's smash and grab raid on our democracy.
We'll do everything possible to stop a disastrous No Deal for which this Tory government has no mandate. #DefendOurDemocracy pic.twitter.com/5tgRT4EjHw
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 31, 2019
And protests took place around the country:
Plymouth, Glasgow, Bristol, Leeds, not necessarily in that order.. Just a few of the protests today. #DefendOurDemocracy #ThePeopleVJohnson pic.twitter.com/GyifPogUth
— Prof Gayle Letherby (@gletherby) August 31, 2019
Cirencester here #StopTheCoup
Conservatibe party members as well as LibDem & Greens all present & determined to prevent this outrage & #StopTheCoup #StopBrexitSaveDemocracy #SaveBritain pic.twitter.com/Yw3Ii6HI7O— PauleFoster🇪🇺 🐈💙🌻🇺🇦#FBPE#ProgressveAlliance (@FaBPaule) August 31, 2019
More photos from Bournemouth @Dorset4E @Southbourne4EU @Bournemouthecho #DefendOurDemocracy #StopTheCoup pic.twitter.com/2oOFznE3Q1
— Tracy Bee (@chalkntalk1) August 31, 2019
Hey #SkyNews #bbcnews we have protest in our country to #DefendOurDemocracy why don’t you show some balls and cover it instead of covering up for a tinpot dictator Johnson pic.twitter.com/BqLahZ4chf
— James (@Jaduk99) August 31, 2019
We’re not even a week into Johnson’s disgusting attack on democracy, but the people are rising, revolting, and long may that continue. One thing’s for sure if we want to stop Johnson, these protests need to be louder and more disruptive than ever before.
Featured image via screengrab
