London , England ( CNN ) -- A large protest was happening Saturday in London against the war in Afghanistan , with organizers saying thousands from around the country would take part . Demonstrators were marching from Speakers Corner in Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square , where there were planned speeches from Labour politician Tony Benn , former London Mayor Ken Livingstone , two members of Parliament and others . London 's Metropolitan Police said more than 5,000 people were expected to take part . Former British soldier Joe Glenton was one of those marching . He served in Afghanistan and was jailed when he refused to go back , and Friday , he handed back the veterans badge he received when he left the armed forces . `` There 's a real upswell of support , and there 's something coming , '' he told CNN about the anti-war sentiment he sees in Britain . Also at the protest was Mandy Sylvester , who said her son has been in Afghanistan for four weeks with the British Paratrooper Regiment . As protesters behind her held signs reading , `` Cut war not welfare , '' Sylvester told CNN the war costs too much and is no longer justified . `` The reason why we 're there has changed three times , to my knowledge , '' she said . `` The reason why we 're there now is because we 're there . '' The Stop the War Coalition was organizing the demonstration along with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament ( CND ) and the British Muslim Initiative . Afghanistan is at the top of the agenda for Saturday 's meeting of NATO leaders in Lisbon , Portugal , where they agreed with the Afghan government to leave international forces there for many years after a planned military transition in 2014 . Protesters called Saturday for the troops to come home , with one saying they are only `` exacerbating the situation '' by being in Afghanistan . `` Any development that has happened has n't been for the Afghan people , '' said protester Chaz Singh . `` It 's only been for the businesses that have come from America , the U.K. , and Europe . '' CNN 's Craig Johnston contributed to this report .
Protesters hold rally in Trafalgar Square . It coincides with Saturday 's NATO meeting on Afghanistan . Protesters say the war costs too much and is n't justified .