Mass demonstrations transpire in London, voicing disapproval towards Trump's stay in the United Kingdom.
In the heart of London, thousands of people gathered to voice their opposition to US President Donald Trump's visit, marking the first full day of his trip to the UK. The demonstration, organized by the "Stop Trump Coalition," was a platform for Britons to express their disapproval of Trump, his policies, and perceived racism.
The coalition, backed by various organizations such as Amnesty International UK, Black Lives Matter UK, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Greenpeace, drew a substantial crowd estimated at around 5,000 people. Protesters initially massed near the BBC's headquarters, displaying a variety of banners, flags, and signs, with some demonstrators even recreating smaller versions of the giant balloon depicting Trump wearing a nappy, a memorable sight from his first state visit in 2019.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a persistent critic of Trump, was among those speaking at the rally. Khan accused Trump's actions of being inconsistent with western values and "straight out of the autocrat's playbook." He also expressed concern that Trump's ideas could lead to fascism in Britain.
Dave Lockett, a former teacher, echoed Khan's sentiments, stating that protesters were demonstrating against everything related to Donald Trump. Left-wing lawmakers, including Zack Polanski, also addressed the crowds, calling for a rejection of Trump's politics of hate and division.
Interestingly, a lone protester, displaying a sign reading "We Love Trump," was surrounded by police and received boos from anti-Trump campaigners. Despite this, there were no reports of disorder or arrests, and a counter-demonstration did not materialize.
The Metropolitan Police deployed approximately 1,600 officers, including 500 from other forces, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest. A contrasting event took place on the same day, with an estimated 150,000 people attending a far-right rally organized by Tommy Robinson, resulting in 26 police officers being injured in clashes on the event's fringes.
A new polling shows that almost half of British respondents think it was wrong to invite Trump for a second state visit. Despite this, only a quarter of respondents in the YouGov/Sky survey believe that Trump's visit will improve UK-US relations.
Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when he was first elected in 2016, has been a vocal critic of Trump's policies. He has accused Trump of scapegoating minorities and illegally deporting US citizens.
As Trump's visit to the UK continues, it remains to be seen how the public discourse will unfold and whether this protest will influence the course of future relations between the two nations.
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