Thousands attend Refugees Welcome protest in London

UK: Thousands of people on Saturday took to the streets of London in a protest organized by ''Solidarity with Refugees'', chanting "refugees are welcome here" in a bid to urge the British government to take more action on the migrant crisis.

The solidarity includes group such as Amnesty International, Oxfam, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Refugee Council and Stop the War Coalition, who joined forces for the Refugees Welcome protest.

The protest comes ahead of a UN Summit for refugees and migrants to be hosted by US president Barack Obama in New York on Monday which is to be attended by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Protesters were seen branding colourful placards carrying slogans like "no-one is illegal", "stop the drowning","choose love" and "be human".

In reference to the US summit, the protesters chanted:

"Theresa May, you will say refugees are welcome here."

The director of Solidarity with Refugees, Ros Ereira said "so far" she thinks there has been a lack of leadership regarding the issue.

"This week is going to be Theresa May's first opportunity as our prime minister to represent us at a global summit," Ms Ereira said.

"I really hope she is going to set the tone for what kind of a country we can be post Brexit and with her new leadership.

"Hopefully she will want to portray us as an open, tolerant, welcoming society that wants to play an important role on the global stage and lead an appropriate global humanitarian response."