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Martin Laing’s defence in his At Random column of the protesters who staged an Argyll Against Trump rally in Oban drew criticism and praise.

Ian Macinnes complained: ‘Get a life do you really thing the American administration really cares what a few people in Oban think about their policies westminster does not they only play to the media.’

Andy Elkerton posted: ‘Martin Laing is completely right when he wrote that it was the demonstrators “democratic right” to protest, just as it’s the “democratic right” of the rest of us to say how utterly pointless this was. I’ve no doubt they were doing it from what they thought was a “good place” but a march against US immigration policy (or even a march FOR US immigration policy) by twenty people in a little Scottish seaside town, does nothing except make those taking part feel good about themselves. This is called “virtue signalling”. A march against our own Council’s policies would have had much more relevance, as has been echoed on the OT site every day.’

John DM Kerr wrote: ‘Surely the oban times has a responsibility to its readers to not embarrass them by printing story’s that make the residents of our town look completely stupid, and I mean cartoon stupid. A gathering of around 20 people for what ever reason should never make it into the news.’ Tom Hayward asked: ‘ Was being a venue for holding demonstrations or rallies the reason, behind the public realm works in Stafford Street and the town centre?’