Londoners protest Brexit decision

Londoners protest Brexit decision

Thousands of Londoners are refusing to accept the results of the EU referendum and have marched through the streets, protesting the decision to leave.

Around 17 million people voted to leave the European Union on June 23, but protesters argue votes were cast after a dishonest campaign.

Now, a week on from the referendum, London still can't shake the Brexit hangover.

The "remainers", who voted to stay in the EU, lost. Now they say the other side cheated, and they want a rematch.

"We want to remain. We believe it's a crock of s**t and we were sold a pup," says one angry protester.

But a small majority is still a majority, and 52 percent voted to leave, versus 48 percent to stay.

Brexit has Kiwi Londoner Lyn Fry marching in protest for the first time since the women's liberation movement in the '70s. This is the first time in the four decades she's lived in the UK.

"It was like this is '78. When I arrived there was a lot of stuff about 'immigrants go home' and I felt terrible about even opening my mouth because as soon as I opened my mouth I was an immigrant," says Ms Fry.

Immigration fears were drummed up throughout the campaign, and since the vote, police say reported hate crime has shot up five times the usual level.

The protest started at Hyde Park, streamed past New Zealand House, and paused outside Downing St, where extra security was posted. It ended outside Westminster with speeches in Parliament Square.

"People have been deluded and deceived and it's about time it's put right," says Ms Fry.

But even pulling out all the stops, thousands in the streets won't overthrow the 17 million votes to leave.

Newshub.