Hundreds hold anti-Brexit protests in UK

Demonstrators march onto College Green outside The Houses of Parliament at an anti-Brexit protest in London, June 28, 2016. (AFP photo)

Hundreds of people across the UK have held demonstrations to protest against Brexit and its supporters following last week’s historic referendum.

In the June 23 referendum, about 52 percent of British voters opted to leave the EU, while roughly 48 percent of the people voted to stay in the union. More than 17.4 million Britons said the country should leave the bloc, as just over 16.14 million others favored remaining in the EU.

The pro-European Union rally was held Tuesday although it had been officially called off over “safety fears”.

Protesters angry at the leading Leave campaigners in the referendum – former London mayor Boris Johnson and Ukip leader Nigel Farage – chanted “Down with Boris” and swore at “Farage.”

"It started with the idea of bringing 20 friends together in London Fields park in East London, and now we have over 50,000 people who want to stand together in London," Jessica Rodgers, an event organizer, wrote on Facebook.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who has promised to make the UK a member of the EU again, said  the Brexit vote “is reversible”.

“In politics, as in life, two things are always the case for me: One, if you lose, you have the grace to accept the defeat, but you never, ever, ever give up,” said Farron, addressing the crowd in Trafalgar Square.

“We as a community must stand together, this is reversible. The people of Britain are decent, outward-looking people. We will carry on direct campaigning.”

Also, conservative business minister Anna Soubry, a Remain campaigner, said "people are angry, not just the young. People of all ages across the country are angry. And I am so sorry because I don't know what the solution is to it."

More than one million people in Britain have signed a petition to call for a second referendum. The petition on the British parliament website gathered some 1,130,000 signatures on Saturday less than 24 hours after it was launched.

The result of Thursday’s referendum caused some people who voted for Leave to feel regret and call the electoral services, asking if they could change their decision.