This past Thursday, June 23rd, citizens of the United Kingdom voted for their exit from the European Union.
Although Scotland, London and Northern Ireland voted against the Brexit (Britain's exit from the European Union), the rest of Britain chose to leave the EU (European Union) 52 percent to 48 percent. The referendum turnout was 71.8 percent of the voter population, which gives the impression that the results are an accurate representation of the British people's sentiments. Except that they're not, at least not in the way it counts.
According to polling data from the You Gov, 75 percent of 18-24 year-olds voted to remain in the European Union. What does this tell us? That the voice of the youth has been drowned out by its antecedent generation. This older generation has made a campaign out of xenophobia, immigrants being their main reason for leaving the European Union and cutting economic and political ties with the rest of Europe. As part of the EU, citizens from different member countries can cross each others' borders freely and participate in a culture of peaceful coexistence. The anti-immigration campaign claims that the unlimited movement from one European country to another is causing an overpopulation in Britain and the best way to solve this problem is simply shutting all "strangers" out. The UK's decision to exit the European Union is not only harmful to its economy, but also to the youth that will be living in barricaded Britain. The worst part: They didn't even get a say in it. To the xenophobes, immigrants may be just strangers, but to the youth they are all Europeans.
The younger generation will receive the economic consequences, the limitations of opportunity and they will feel the seclusion. A passing generation was able to take the future out of their hands, to then leave them with the aftermath. This referendum has determined a future that the majority of those that will be experiencing it, don't want to live in. Filled with fear upon the realization of a potential disastrous reality, the youth are raising their voices through social media. They are sending a powerful message: No matter what happens, the UK will always be a part of Europe, and they will not let the fear of immigrants take advantage of the coexistence that will always be part of their lives and in their hearts.
(Video originally posted on The Guardian)
Looking from the other side, we can do nothing else but send our love and support through this difficult time. We can only hope the United States of America will not be too quick to mirror the shutting of borders that will be occurring between Britain and Europe.
