Protests mark debate on visit
HUNDREDS of Glaswegians are set to protest against Donald Trump next week as parliament debates whether the president’s state visit should be cancelled.
Stand Up to Racism Glasgow has organised Monday’s protest in response to a petition signed by more than 1.8 million calling for the cancellation of Trump’s state visit.
The protest comes after Trump signed an executive order banning all citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days.
More than 700 people are expected to attend the event at the steps outside Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall.
Joshua Brown from the Glasgow section of Stand Up to Racism said: “The racism and xenophobia that Trump represents is also represented by Teresa May so we are building a movement against those two leaders.”
Jennifer Constable, 21, a Strathclyde University student who is attending the event said: “Trump’s racist views give racist people here more confidence and I think this protest is a way to address that issue.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a state visit would be wrong “while bans on refugees and citizens of some countries remain in place.” She added: “No politician should stand by in silence when core principles of tolerance, equality and refuge for those in need are threatened.”
The protest also coincides with Migrant Day of Action which aims to show how important migrants are to the UK workforce.