Europe

Thousands worldwide commemorate killed British lawmaker

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Brendan Cox, widower of murdered British MP Jo Cox, makes a speech during a gathering to celebrate her life, in Trafalgar Square, London, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Jo Cox, a 41-year-old Labour lawmaker who had championed the cause of Syrian refugees, was stabbed and shot to death outside a library in her northern England constituency on Thursday. The suspect gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain." (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (The Associated Press)

Brendan Cox, widower of murdered British MP Jo Cox makes a speech during a gathering to celebrate her life, in Trafalgar Square, London, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Jo Cox, a 41-year-old Labour lawmaker who had championed the cause of Syrian refugees, was stabbed and shot to death outside a library in her northern England constituency on Thursday. The suspect gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain." (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (The Associated Press)

Brendan Cox, widower of murdered British MP Jo Cox makes a speech during a gathering to celebrate her life, in Trafalgar Square, London, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Jo Cox, a 41-year-old Labour lawmaker who had championed the cause of Syrian refugees, was stabbed and shot to death outside a library in her northern England constituency on Thursday. The suspect gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain." (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of people have gathered in London and in cities around the world to commemorate slain British lawmaker Jo Cox on what would have been her 42nd birthday.

Artists, friends and family members took to a stage Wednesday to praise a woman they described as a passionate campaigner for the rights of refugees and women.

Cox was shot and stabbed to death in her constituency Thursday by a man who later gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

Her killing shocked Britain and triggered a three-day pause in campaigning for a referendum Thursday on the country's EU membership.

Cox's husband Brendan told a crowd of 9,000 in Trafalgar Square that Cox "feared the consequences of Europe dividing again" and urged people to follow her example.