Embassy in London sounds protest alert as US president begins visit

LONDON: The word “alert” looks a little scary on the homepage of the US embassy in London.

The US State Department is warning US citizens “to keep a low profile” and to “be aware of your surroundings” this week.

The reason: demonstrations are planned against President Donald Trump in London, Windsor, Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds, Cambridge, Cardiff and Glasgow, and on the west coast of Scotland, where Trump owns a golf course.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators – maybe more – are planning to gather in London’s Trafalgar Square to protest against Trump and his policies tomorrow while he visits Prime Minister Theresa May at her Chequers country estate and Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

The demonstrators plan to send up a large balloon beside Westminster Palace, depicting a bronzed “Trump Baby” in a pair of nappies, clutching a cellphone.

Trump will spend tonight in London at Winfield House, the official residence of the US ambassador to Britain, Robert Johnson. They will attend a gala dinner at Blenheim Palace in the countryside.

Johnson told reporters US citizens respected peaceful protest.

However, the embassy also warned US citizens to “exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent”.

Yesterday, The Guardian newspaper reported “the UK police mobilisation for Trump’s visit would be the largest since the 2011 English riots”, when 10 000 police were deployed in London during five days of violence, looting and unrest sparked when police shot and killed a suspect during an investigation into gun violence.

Organisers of the anti-Trump rallies said they were not expecting any trouble and that it would be very unlikely for any hostility to be directed at ordinary US citizens.

Asad Rehman, 51, one of the organisers of a massive protest planned for central London, said among motivating factors for the protest was the aim to show solidarity with US citizens across the Atlantic who also opposed Trump. “It’s important for us to send a powerful signal to those who are resisting and campaigning in America that we are standing in solidarity with them,” Rehman said. On social media, some accused the State Department of scaremongering. A spokesperson for the US embassy in London said there was nothing political about the timing of the alert, and such warnings were routine.

John Scardino, 58, a high school teacher from the US who has lived in Britain for 18 years and will be at tomorrow’s protests in London, said the embassy alert was unlikely to have any effect on crowd size. “I think Americans living here are eager to turn out and express their views,” he said.

Tomorrow, Trump and his wife are expected to go to Scotland to play golf and relax – with more protests scheduled at his resort. –