Noisy protest as Trump Tower opens in Vancouver
People carrying anti-Trump signs took part in a raucous demonstration to the sound of reggae music outside the grand opening of the Trump Tower in Vancouver on Tuesday.
Some protesters carried signs reading “Love Trumps Hate’’ and “Deport Racism’’ behind metal barriers protecting the 69-storey building, which has become a focal point for demonstrations against U.S. President Donald Trump.
The $360-million hotel and condominium development, with a unique twisting design by late architect Arthur Erickson, had a soft launch last month. Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and his daughter Tiffany attended the grand opening.
“We’ve had an unbelievable past year on so many fronts as a family. We’ve opened so many great properties,’’ Eric Trump told the official opening.
“This building now sits in a great portfolio of what we consider the best buildings in the world, best architectural masterpieces anywhere in the world. And that is what our brand is all about, that is what our father’s vision was all about, creating the most iconic buildings anywhere in the world.’’
Vancouver’s Trump International Hotel and Tower was built by developer Joo Kim Tiah, the president and CEO of Holborn Group, who is the son of one of Malaysia’s wealthiest businessmen. The Trump Organization does not own the tower, but licensed its name for branding and marketing, while the Trump Hotel Collection operates the 147-room hotel.
It has become a destination for protests over the president’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, comments about women and promises to build a wall to keep Mexican migrants out of the United States.
Several protesters began singing the national anthem and there were some heated arguments between small numbers of pro-Trump attendees and the anti-Trump protesters. Police officers were lined up outside the tower but were mostly standing and watching, although officers separated two men who were arguing.
Beth Nesbit, who moved to Vancouver two years ago from Los Angeles and attended the protest with her two-year-old son Liam, said Trump doesn’t represent what Americans believe in.
“He doesn’t believe in women’s rights. He doesn’t believe in public education,’’ she said, adding that she supports Mayor Gregor Robertson’s call for the Trump name to be removed from the building.
“I know the Canadian people, from what I’ve seen in my two years living here, none of his values are shared here. People believe in unity. They believe in accepting everyone and for our differences, and that’s what I want my children to understand too.’’
Michelle Fortin of Vancouver says the Trump name has been tarnished.
“I think Canadian values are not very well represented by the name behind us,’’ she said outside the building. “I refuse to say his name. I think the other thing is that we have a right to identify things that we’re unhappy with and that’s a part of our Canadian system. So I’m here to speak out and speak for our values.’’