Luvvies threaten ‘biggest ever’ protest for Trump
‘Turn anger into action’
CELEBRITIES joined activists last night in pledging to hold ‘the most incredible protest in history’ when Donald Trump makes his official visit to Britain later this year.
Campaigning coalition Stop Trump has vowed to make the rally the largest ever seen in Britain.
Stephen Fry and classicist Mary Beard have also backed protests against the US President.
It comes after Mr Trump and Theresa May ordered officials to hammer out plans for a trip as they put on a show of unity last week.
But plans for a full State Visit, including an evening with the Queen, are still on hold amid concerns about protests.
It seems these concerns may be partially justified. Over 21,000 people have added their names to a Facebook event hosted by Stop Trump and writer Owen Jones, which promises to stage demonstrations when the US President visits the country later this year.
Last night Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy was among those who added their name to the list, tweeting: ‘Who’s in?’ Mr Jones posted: ‘Let’s make sure he’s met by the most incredible protest in history.’
Any rally would have to top 2003’s protest against the removal of Saddam Hussein – estimated to have attracted between 750,000 and one million people.
Meanwhile, the likes of Mr Fry, Labour MP Stella Creasy and activist Paul Mason have all backed a group aimed at funnelling support to organisations Mr Trump is thought to dislike.
Miss Beard and comedian David Baddiel have also expressed support for the ‘Top Trump Targets’ movement.
Their website states: ‘We want to make sure when [Trump] visits – whenever it takes place – something good comes of it. We want to put our money where our marching is.’
Earlier this week Mr Fry tweeted: ‘Join Top Trump Targets – we’re coming together to build a better Britain by standing with those Trump targets.’
Mr Mason wrote: ‘Let’s protest Trump with the biggest mass demo.’ Miss Creasy said: ‘Anyone else horrified Trump’s visit to the UK [is] back on the agenda? Anyone want to turn that anger into action? Then join our Top Trumps Target campaign.’
Yesterday Mr Trump said Mrs May had invited him to visit the UK twice this year when they held talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week.
He is expected to make a brief ‘working visit’ in July, followed by a full state visit in October.
Asked if he would be visiting Britain this year, he replied: ‘Yeah, I’ll be there.’
A plan for him to come to London to open the new US embassy was dramatically dropped, fuelling concerns about a breakdown in the historic alliance.
An official petition against the Government over plans to provide a state welcome to Mr Trump was signed by more than 1.8million last year and was debated in Parliament.
The schedule for the visit is now being worked out by officials after Mr Trump and Mrs May reaffirmed their commitment to the ‘special relationship’ during talks at Davos.
As the pair posed for photographs at the resort, Mrs May nodded along when Mr Trump said he wanted to correct ‘false rumours’ that they did not get on.
They heaped praise on each other in a bid to kill off claims of rising tensions, with reports that his state visit invitation has turned into a ‘nightmare’.