Left Foot Forward reports from Downing Street
Image: Women’s rights protesters at Monday’s anti-Trump protest. Credit: Josiah Mortimer.
Donald Trump’s decision to ban the citizens of seven Muslim countries coming to the US has sparked outrage across the world.
Here in Britain though, the anger has been directed at the Prime Minister, Theresa May, and her decision to roll out the red carpet for Trump in a full state visit.
That’s despite more than 1.5 million people signing a petition against Trump in just a few days, urging the PM to rethink the move.
Thousands marched outside Downing Street on Monday calling on her to do just that.
They were marching for a multitude of reasons and from a million backgrounds – from feminists to gay rights activists, from Muslims to those who believed his actions were ‘un-Christian’. There were banners, flags and chants from across the spectrum – but the most clear was the simple call: ‘No State Visit’.
One protestor summed it up: “The Muslim ban is the beginning of what Trump wants to do. If we don’t start now it will be too late later on.” The feeling is palpable – though we are thousands of miles away in Britain, the voices of people hear must be hear across the Atlantic.
I spoke to some of those there – including people potentially affected by the move – on why they want a ‘Trump Ban’ on Britain. Here’s what they had to say:
From the petitions that are active, it seems the anti-Trump cause is winning:
Graphic: Left Foot Forward. Sources: here and here.
See: Labour MPs demand that Johnson ‘have the guts to speak out’ on Muslim ban
3 Responses to “WATCH: Protesters explain why they’re fighting Trump’s state visit”
Tris
The problem with all you little snowflakes is that Trump has taken the decision to put his own countrymen first …from start to finish .ITs a shame out prime minister does not do the same …not got the balls ..well TRUMP HAS …ONCE WE LEAVE THE EU MAYBE WE SHOULD BECOME A VASSEL OF THE USA . NO NEED FOR TRADE DEAL THEN …the vast majority of people in the developed nations {usa,uk etc} have lost under globalisation jobs pride etc ..so we can save a few quid on tax etc .
David Lindsay
For 25 years, almost completely ignored except in relation to the Iraq War, a section of the political Left and a smaller section of the political Right have consistently opposed the racist, militarist and imperialist policies of the Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump Administrations. For 20 years, almost completely ignored except in relation to the Iraq War, a section of the political Left and a smaller section of the political Right have consistently opposed the racist, militarist and imperialist policies of the Blair, Brown, Cameron and May Governments.
A steadfast stalwart has been, and remains, Jeremy Corbyn. His election and re-election as Labour Leader have been significant victories for the movement against liberal interventionism. Another victory was the social media campaign that led to the lobbying of the House of Commons such that it defeated the Cameron Government over Syria. Therefore, it is not correct to say that, “They never did Stop the War.”
In the event of a State Visit to the United Kingdom by President Donald Trump, it is imperative that those with that consistent, and not unsuccessful, record be the organisers of what would easily be the largest demonstration in British history, and that that demonstration be addressed by Mr Corbyn. This would have the potential to politicise an entire generation, thereby changing Britain in myriad ways over at least 50 years. But it would have to be led by those who would have reacted in the same way to a State Visit by President Hillary Clinton.
Jimmy Glesga
Trump gets a grip with Islamic Nazi Fascists and the braindead looney tune left protest. There never really was not much of a difference between the hard left and far right. Their antipathy towards Jews and Israel seems consistent.