AN anti-Brexit rally in Belfast on Saturday heard that Europe is a force for peace in Northern Ireland and around the world.
Hundreds of people turned out at city hall for the anti-Brexit demonstration.
The ‘Rally for Remain’ came on the same day as more than 600,000 people attended a similar event in London.
In 2016’s Brexit referendum the majority of people in the north, 56 per cent, voted to remain in the Europe.
However, the continuing failure reach a deal between the British government and Europe means the prospect of a hard Brexit now appears more likely than ever.
Those attending the Belfast protest gathered at city hall for a rally during which local politicians addressed the crowd.
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Mayor of Belfast Deirdre Hargey said the DUP and Conservatives Party are pursuing a “hard Brexit agenda”.
“That is reckless and in direct contravention of the democratically expressed will of the majority of people here,” she said.
“In that context, there is an onus on progressive and pragmatic parties to represent the wishes of the majority and to defend the progress that has been made in this society.”
South Belfast MLA Claire Hanna called for a second referendum.
“The best and fairest and most plausible way out of this is a ‘People’s vote’,” she said.
“No one voted for this mess, or to be poorer, and no leaver should fear democracy and if Brexit is as brilliant as they pretend it would be.
“The will of the people wasn’t frozen in time two years ago.”
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long told protesters that Europe is a force for peace.
“We have the EU to thank for the longest period of peace and stability on the continent of Europe in history,” she said.
“It underpinned the peace.
“The EU spent money underpinning the peace right across Europe, from the fall of the Berlin Wall which could have been chaotic, right through to the former Yugoslavia.
“Nowhere did it do that more than right here.”
Meanwhile, a huge crowd took to the streets of London to support the People’s Vote campaign, which calls for a fresh poll to be held on any final Brexit deal.
Politicians were joined by celebrities, including TV chef Delia Smith and Dragons' Den judge Deborah Meaden, for a major rally at Parliament Square.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told those who had gathered he backs a second vote.
“What's really important is that those that say that a public vote is undemocratic, is unpatriotic, realise that in fact, the exact opposite is the truth,” he said.
"What could be more democratic, what could be more British, than trusting the judgement of the British people."
A pro-Brexit rally was also held in Harrogate, in Yorkshire, which was organised by the Leave Means Leave group and led by former Ukip leader Nigel Farage.
