Campaigners plan huge demonstration if Trump state visit goes ahead

Campaigners have pledged to mobilise huge numbers in response to rumours of a state visit by Donald Trump. It has been widely reported that Donald Trump intends to visit the UK again, this time with a state visit, in early June. Reports estimate that this could take place just before he is scheduled to be in France for D-Day celebrations on 4th and 5th June.

Huge protests were mobilised last July, when Trump’s state visit was downgraded to a working visit. An estimated 250,000 people took to the streets of London.

The same set of organisers – the Stop Trump coalition and Stand Up To Trump – are set to mobilise again this time. They expect big numbers, with the mobilisation taking place against the backdrop of the school climate strikes and the Extinction Rebellion protests.

The ‘Together Against Trump’ protest will take place on the day of Trump’s state visit engagements and will flood the capital with hundreds of thousands of protesters.

Shaista Aziz, from the Stop Trump coalition, said:

“This demonstration isn’t just about Trump as one man. He is a symbol of the new far right, a politics of Islamophobia and anti-semitism, of war and conflict, and walls and fences that are growing around the world. We are fighting against the British government’s own disgraceful “hostile environment” policies, as well as Trump’s border wall. It is time for everyone who opposes this politics of hate and bigotry to stand up and be counted.

Sabby Dhalu from Stand Up to Trump said:

“Donald Trump is the world’s number one racist, warmonger and misogynist, with no solution to the global economic crisis. His presidency has emboldened every fascist and racist across the globe and is stirring up tension in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. A formal state visit to Britain in June must be met with widespread opposition. All those that value peace and hope for a better world for the many must take to the streets and say clearly that Donald Trump is not welcome here!”