Avaaz Responds to Triggering of Article 50: “May Stop Silencing British Citizens on Brexit”

*Westminster stunt underlines public concern that the PM is pushing for a hard Brexit*

Today, Avaaz members protested the triggering of article 50 at Westminster with a theatrical stunt, including a giant costumed Theresa May dragging three gagged citizens with the message, “BREXIT: Shut up and let me carry on” .

This comes in reaction to May’s push for a hard Brexit, including her move in the last few weeks to bypass the House of Lords. According to a poll conducted by ICM for Avaaz in February, a majority of British voters do not want the UK to crash out of the EU and 52% of them want Parliament to have a “meaningful” vote on the matter.

Alex Wilks, Campaign Director at Avaaz, said: "Denying Parliament a full say on how and when we leave the EU undermines the very essence of our democracy. When May silences our MPs she is silencing millions of citizens on the biggest political issue of our generation. People are not going to keep calm and carry on as the Prime Minister sends our country over a cliff without a parachute”.

Avaaz members across the UK have spent the past weeks writing to and calling their local MPs to ensure the people have a meaningful say on the Brexit outcome, which will affect Britains’ entire future, from jobs to the environment.

Avaaz is a 45 million-person citizens` movement working to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape key decisions. http://www.avaaz.org/en

ENDS

High-Res images of the action for editorial use are here:  https://secure.avaaz.org/brexit_day

For interviews: Daniel Boese +491778405700, daniel.boese@avaaz.org