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Donald Trump is set to return to the UK later this year, and campaigners are preparing for what they anticipate will be major protests, potentially even larger than those associated with his state visit in 2019. Following a personal invitation from King Charles III, communicated by Labour leader Keir Starmer during a recent White House visit, Trump disclosed his expected visit in September.
The Stop Trump coalition has voiced its expectation that protests could outnumber the previous demonstrations, which drew as many as 250,000 participants during a “carnival of resistance” in 2019.
Zoe Gardner, a spokesperson for the coalition, expressed confidence that there is widespread discontent towards Trump across the UK. “This time it will be even bigger, uniting campaigners across a huge range of issues. The disgust at Donald Trump is just as strong across the country,” she remarked.
In preparation for the protests, organizers are reviving a balloon effigy of Trump dressed in a nappy, which proved to be a popular symbol at previous events. This time, they plan to introduce a larger version to heighten visibility and impact.
The coalition hopes to secure permission from the London mayor to have these blimps fly over the city, similar to the permissions granted during the last visit. “Last time, Sadiq Khan allowed us to fly it. We believe he will likely do so again, although we’ll need to secure approvals from the GLA and police,” Gardner explained. “While the process might differ this time, we are confident many people will want to take to the streets to express their dissent.”
These forthcoming demonstrations will not only aim to convey protest against Trump, but will also serve as a significant test for law enforcement, particularly given the government’s recent implementation of stricter laws aimed at controlling protests and activism.
Gardner articulated a vision for the protests as a celebratory defiance, emphasizing support for marginalized groups and various rights that Trump has opposed, from LGBTQ rights to labor rights. “It will embrace every marginalized group in society,” she said.
Additionally, the protests will seek to hold accountable the tech and business leaders who have endorsed Trump’s agenda. “If we had a slogan, it would be ‘Stop Trump and fight the oligarchy’. We oppose empowering the wealthy elite and the troubling relationships with figures like Putin and the tech billionaires leveraging the UK for tax advantages,” Gardner stated.
Protesters plan to include large papier-mâché figures of tech moguls such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk, alongside a humorous group of “chlorinated chickens” criticizing the UK’s prospective trade deals with the US.
The coalition is collaborating with several supportive groups, including Global Justice Now and the leftist Indivisibles Movement, as well as organizations advocating for Palestine and Ukraine.
Starmer’s invitation to Trump is seen as part of a strategy to cultivate a beneficial trade arrangement with the US. Gardner foresees protesters directing their frustration towards Starmer as well, stating, “Starmer should be shamed by these demonstrations. The whole country has felt embarrassed by his subservience to Trump. His approach has not yielded any favorable results for us.”
Moreover, she welcomed creative ideas from supporters to ensure the protests effectively communicate public sentiment against Trump. “We are eager for anyone with creative ideas to come forward, as we want to strongly convey our opinion of him,” Gardner concluded.
Source
www.theguardian.com