Cllr Marion Nash blogs after attending 'March for Europe' rally in London

Four march in anti Brexit rally

We woke up especially early on 24 June as the news had said the previous day that results of the EU referendum would be available from 5am. When we heard the news, shocked is the only word I can think of to describe our reaction - and when I went to each of my two daughters, they shouted their indignity at me - as if it was me that had brought about this outrage! Which, in a way, they thought I had, because it was the fault of the older generations in their eyes.

This was followed by, what appeared to be, national crisis after crisis, with a dollop of chaos. If the captains of the Leave/Brexit/Out ship didn't jump, it looks like they are just about to get pushed. So, they brought about these crises, but weren't prepared to deal with the repercussions.

We've all signed lots of petitions in my family since then - one of which has got over 4 million signatures. Not that it'll do any good, but it salves the wound a bit. Then BOTH my girls sent me and my husband a link for the London anti Brexit rally on the same day (Saturday 2 July 2016). We got the hint and were so pleased they were so passionate about challenging the situation we found ourselves in.

My youngest was determined to walk the 2 mile route. My MS won't let me walk that far, so my eldest and I waited in Trafalgar Square for a couple of hours until the rally came our way. Then we had the fun of watching all the rally that was ahead of our two family members.

Here's some of the placards that went by Fromage not Farage! EU make me feel like dancing! Europe INNIT!! We want our fEUture back!! EUnity!!

The event became a love-in for Europe - although there was an underlying anger, it was not directed at those that voted OUT. The emphases of the conversations were about the voters having been deceived by the spin that had been put out to support the various arguments (on both sides) and how this had skewed the final result, and also about the broken promises that had become apparent in the past week.

There was lots of chanting (baguettes not regrets!! Wowh, wooowh, wowh, wowh, wowh, wowh EU - to the tune of Hey Jude), rapping, singing, music, dogs running around with IN stickers, people handing out banners for those of us (oops) that hadn't put one together, EU flags, smiling and compassion.

There were people from all walks of life and of all race, creed, colour and age, many of whom were obviously as passionate about anti racism as they were about anti Brexit. And we met a Geordie who told us that it was a good thing to cut links with the Germans and that southerners are all narrow minded. Erm, I don't think he understood how ironic his comments were, but we figured he didn't need to be enlightened by the likes of us Midlanders.

We then stayed for a couple of hours in Parliament Square, listening to presentations from politicians, students and activists - even Tim Farron made a virtual appearance. The young are obviously really fed up with the situation and there were a lot of the 'older generation' looking apologetic - although, to be fair, we'd all voted IN.