When did you first attend the SODEM protest outside Parliament and why did you come? 

I first came to SODEM in January 2019. Having attended most of the big anti-Brexit demonstrations since 2016, I wanted to find more ways of connecting with the Remain movement in real time as well as online.

Roughly how old are you?

62

How frequently did you come and when was the last time you attended?

I came whenever I could while in the UK from Germany during 2019 – roughly three times.

How far from Westminster do you live and what was your travelling time?

Travelling time from Croydon/Warlingham, where I was then temporarily staying was a good hour. 

What’s your favourite memory?

Meeting people and talking to them. Seeing all the amazing cakes that had been baked.

Tell me your story

Apart from the big anti-Brexit demonstrations, I had also been involved with activities like leafleting in London with the N°Vigil group on my trips from Germany to London to visit my mother. It was a terrible thing to be in the position of having to oppose and expose a madcap isolationist policy which built on and exploited the worst of English nationalism and exceptionalism.  The silver lining was that it connected me to the UK again in very positive ways. I would never have dreamed before Brexit happened that so many people were prepared to stand up and be counted as pro-Europeans and it seemed that this sentiment actually grew as a result of Brexit. I also feel very strongly for the Brits being deprived of their European citizenship and for the EU citizens who are now marginalized in the UK. I can share some of that feeling too because UK voting law has marginalized me as I was not even allowed to vote in the 2016 referendum as I had been living and working in Germany for too long (even though here I work in the service of British culture teaching English literature ;-)).  In summary: it is sad to feel alienated from the direction your country has taken and the leadership it has chosen, but I am happy to be connected to many people who feel the same way.