The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As Trump arrives in Britain, foes kick off days of protests
LONDON — As President Donald Trump landed in Britain on Thursday afternoon, protesters have been in battle-preparation mode, with demonstrations planned for every stage of his visit, even as its choreography seems designed to have him spend as little time as possible in London and keep him out of sight of any protests.
The president, who is set for a two-day working visit followed by a weekend in Scotland, addressed the planned protests in a news conference, saying, “I think it’s fine.”
“They like me a lot in the U.K.,” he added. “They agree with me on immigration. I’m going to a pretty hot spot right now, a lot of resignations.”
Supporters of Trump are hoping to stage their own “Welcome Trump” procession Saturday.
Trump arrived around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, straight from the NATO summit. The first protest, described as “the wall of sound,” was scheduled for the evening, when Trump heads to Winfield House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador, in Regent’s Park in London. That’s where he will spend the night.
Activists planned to stir up as much noise as possible and play harrowing recordings of children crying — a protest against the Trump administration’s separation of families at the U.S. border with Mexico. The noise will continue into the evening: Protesters aim to bang pots and pans in an attempt to “keep Trump awake in London,” organizers say.
Crowds also gathered near Oxford outside Blenheim Pal- ace, the ancestral home of the Spencer-Churchill family, where Prime Minister Theresa May is hosting a black- tie dinner for Trump.
At 7:45 p.m., environmental activists planned to drop a giant “Trump: Climate Genocide” banner opposite the Houses of Parliament. This morning, some protesters plan to follow Trump to Chequers, the country house of the prime minister, where he and May will hold bilateral talks on security and trade issues.
The main national demon- stration, “Together Against Trump,” is planned in London for 2 p.m. today. Activists aim to fly a giant orange balloon of the president depicted as a baby in a diaper above Parliament Square. Muslim groups, too, plan to march in protest after Friday Prayer. Police expect more than 100,000 protesters.
On Saturday, supporters planned to march from the U.S. Embassy to Whitehall. The Metropolitan Police said Thursday that they were imposing restrictions on that and a counter-rally “in order to prevent serious disorder and disruption to Londoners.”
“Donald Trump is not welcome here,” the Scottish Labour and Scottish Green parties said in a joint state- ment. “The horrific scenes at the Mexican border are a repudiation of decent human values. Caging children like animals is barbaric. We cannot roll out the red carpet for a U.S. president that treats human beings this way.”
The “Trump Baby” balloon may follow the president to Scotland. Thousands of people have also signed a petition asking permission to fly the balloon over the Turnberry golf course, where the president is expected to play Saturday.