On Friday, 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom awoke as a nation starkly divided. In a historic referendum held the day previous, the country’s residents voted by a margin of 4% to leave the European Union behind.
The immediate fallout of the referendum was profound: the market tanked; the prime minister resigned; strong feelings of outrage, insult and fear poured out; xenophobia and racism became more pronounced than usual, with reports of hate-crime rising by the hour.
Whitehall, London, UK; 24 June, 2016. The Vote Leave platform advocated ‘taking back control’ of the UK’s borders and reducing immigration; Remain voters saw this as decidedly racist and xenophobic.
Emotions run high as protesters join in rallying cries against the referendum results.
With a difference of just 4% between Leave and Remain votes, the referendum result was far from decisive.
A protester holds a hand-made sign condemning fear, ignorance, racism, and closed borders.
Support for remaining in the EU was particularly strong amongst young people, with nearly 75% of 18-24 year-olds voting to stay. Those too young to vote felt especially betrayed by more senior age groups.
The prospect of ending free movement between the UK and the EU resonated poorly with many UK residents who value the relationships and job opportunities they have discovered abroad.
With growing concern over the stability of the UK’s economy, many younger voters felt cheated out of opportunities already enjoyed by the older population.
An older couple stop a police officer at the outskirts of the protest to ask for directions to the theatre.
Photographers and police officers spill into the street to capture and contain the growing crowd.
A key concern amongst protesters was the candidacy of Boris Johnson to succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister of the UK. The former mayor of London, Johnson has been repeatedly accused of holding dubious, opportunistic political agendas.
Settling in for the long haul.
A sense of injustice resonated particularly among young people and those in London, who voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining part of the EU. While over a million people signed a parliamentary petition urging a second referendum, a crowd gathered in front of Downing Street (headquarters of Her Majesty’s Government) to decry the referendum results. (Cole Peters)
I am a photographer — originally from Canada, and currently based in London, England. My photography primarily takes place within urban environments, and seeks… More »
