Anti-Brexit demonstrators protest in the heart of Berlin
Unhappy protesters met by the Brandenburg Gate on Saturday to show their discontent with the outcome of Britain's referendum on EU membership.
Elliot Herman, a British national from London, organized the demonstration called 'Berlin protests Brexit'.
Seeing that there would be a march on Parliament Square in London on Saturday, he decided to organise a similar demonstration at the same time in Berlin.
“I saw that protests were going to take place in London and across Europe, and I wanted to be a part of it,” he told The Local.
On Saturday 40,000 people turned out for the London demonstration against a referendum which set Britain on the path to exiting the EU.
“I was really astonished that nobody had organised anything here in Berlin,” said the 39-year-old Herman.
At midday on Saturday, people congregated on Unter den Linden, the Berlin boulevard leading to the Brandenburg Gate, one of the capital's main tourist attractions.
The event lasted two hours, and attracted a modest crowd of around 75 protesters at its highest point.
“My main goal with the demonstration was making the UK government and Germany aware of our feelings,” he said. “I want people to know that nearly half the country wanted to stay [in the EU].
“We need them to see us, notice us, pay attention to us.”
Among the protesters were British people, tourists from the UK and elsewhere and native Germans who had lived or worked in the UK.
“There were young people, old people, there were children who were born in Berlin to British parents and unable to get a German passport,” Herman said.
“I feel that things aren’t as hopeless as they were straight after the referendum,” he said. “I am especially pleased with how the German vice-Chancellor is discussing offering Brits dual citizenship.”
By Ali Butt
Comments
See Also
Elliot Herman, a British national from London, organized the demonstration called 'Berlin protests Brexit'.
Seeing that there would be a march on Parliament Square in London on Saturday, he decided to organise a similar demonstration at the same time in Berlin.
“I saw that protests were going to take place in London and across Europe, and I wanted to be a part of it,” he told The Local.
On Saturday 40,000 people turned out for the London demonstration against a referendum which set Britain on the path to exiting the EU.
“I was really astonished that nobody had organised anything here in Berlin,” said the 39-year-old Herman.
At midday on Saturday, people congregated on Unter den Linden, the Berlin boulevard leading to the Brandenburg Gate, one of the capital's main tourist attractions.
The event lasted two hours, and attracted a modest crowd of around 75 protesters at its highest point.
“My main goal with the demonstration was making the UK government and Germany aware of our feelings,” he said. “I want people to know that nearly half the country wanted to stay [in the EU].
“We need them to see us, notice us, pay attention to us.”
Among the protesters were British people, tourists from the UK and elsewhere and native Germans who had lived or worked in the UK.
“There were young people, old people, there were children who were born in Berlin to British parents and unable to get a German passport,” Herman said.
“I feel that things aren’t as hopeless as they were straight after the referendum,” he said. “I am especially pleased with how the German vice-Chancellor is discussing offering Brits dual citizenship.”
By Ali Butt
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.