Britons In New York City Sound Off On Brexit Vote
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- British nationals and others in New York City are reacting after waking up to the news that the United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union following a bitterly divisive referendum campaign.
At the British restaurant Tea & Sympathy in the West Village, the vote was the only topic of conversation Friday.
Owner Nicky Perry said her homeland was driven by what she believes is a racist fear of immigration, 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported.
"It's ridiculous, the racists have won," she said. "I cannot believe how stupid people are."
A man named Matthew who cooks at the restaurant was surprised voters decided to leave. He said the idea of a poorer working class being able to find jobs in other European countries was good for everybody.
"I'd rather have stayed and keep the stability in Europe," he said. "I'm a bit annoyed."
Outside the British consulate in Manhattan, others were skeptical of the outcome of the vote.
"I've been living here for 12 years, so I don't think it's going to affect us out here, but people at home are going to surely suffer," Paul O'Brien, who lives in New Jersey but is from Ireland, told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
The U.K. is the first major country to decide to leave the EU, which was created after World War II by European leaders looking to build links and prevent future conflict.
Much of the so-called "Brexit" debate centered less on the economy and more on the closing of Britain's borders. But the decision to leave the EU launches years of trade, business and political negotiations with what will be the new 27-nation bloc.
