Anti-racist protest against Trump’s ban on refugees

Lots of support for hastily organised demo, say organisers

A small gathering of protesters met in Maidstone town centre in support of a national demonstration against US President Donald Trump this week.

The impromptu assembly was hastily organised by the Maidstone Anti-Racist Network, set up in recent weeks to counter right wing groups demonstrating against mosque redevelopment plans in the town.

Around 10 people in Maidstone supported the “emergency” demo on Monday night, held across Britain protesting at the recently inaugurated Republican leader’s order restricting entry to the States from seven Muslimmajority countries.

Anger has been growing both in the US and on home soil since the travel ban was imposed and Trump’s anticipated State visit to Britain was announced.

A petition calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to cancel Mr Trump’s planned State visit to the UK had been signed more than 1.8 million times as the Kent Messenger went to press and MPs held an emergency debate on the immigration measures.

The USA travel order activates a suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Programme for 120 days and there is also an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.

In a letter to Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant, the Maidstone Anti-Racist Network group says: “We are shocked that Donald Trump is refusing to take refugees from war-torn countries. There are moments of terrible injustice throughout history where we look back and rightly ask – what did people do?

“If we do not speak out, we are complicit.”

Steve Cheeseman, the group’s founder, said they felt compelled to add their voices to Monday’s national protest.

He said: “The response has been great. We’ve had loads of people expressing their support.

“Donald Trump’s actions have separated families and caused suffering worldwide. For the UK to be complicit in these actions is shameful.

“We are calling on Theresa May and other world leaders to oppose this ban and for Trump’s State visit to be cancelled until this travel ban is revoked.”