The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rallying calls on deaf ears?
From the G8 summit to the latest anti-Trump marches, Courier Country has been no stranger to political protests over the years. Michael Alexander asks if they really make a difference
They came in their hundreds. Men, women and children of all ages and all political backgrounds – united in solidarity against US President Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban”.
The peaceful protests, which attracted around 300 people to the centre of Dundee and a similar number to St Andrews on Monday night, were organised through social media after Mr Trump signed an executive order barring citizens of seven Muslimmajority countries from the US for 90 days and suspending the refugee system for 120 days.
Thousands more attended gatherings in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London and, as of yesterday, more than 1.5 million people had signed a petition calling on Trump’s forthcoming state visit to the UK to be revoked.
To date, Prime Minister Theresa May is standing by the red carpet invitation she made to Trump during their meeting in Washington last Friday.
And the defiant president is insisting the travel ban is necessary to stop “bad dudes” entering the US.
So what difference do such demonstrations actually make?
According to seasoned campaigner Jim Malone, 56, Dundee Labour trade union group coordinator and a member of the Fire Brigade Union, the very act of protesting remains essential if democratic values and freedom of speech are to prevail.
“The organisers of Monday night’s marches should be patting themselves on the back,” said Mr Malone.
“It demonstrates the broad concern about the actions of a misogynist elected president and leader of the so-called free world.
“It’s typical of the response from Dundee when faced with prejudice and intolerance.”
For him, this week’s demonstrations had echoes of 2013, when Dundonians stood up to the Scottish Defence League as the far right group tried to take over the city centre.
“It’s about people coming together and showing that we can distance ourselves from bigots like Trump,” he added.
Courier Country has hosted its share of demonstrations over the years. From the high-profile and at times volatile Make Poverty History marches during the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in 2005, to the anti-poll tax, bedroom tax and austerity rallies, outcomes have ranged from outright victory to downright frustration.
Louise McLeary, 38, who is blind, was at the forefront of the Kirkcaldy Anti-Bedroom Tax protest group set up in 2013 – and the first person in Scotland to win a concession from the enforced payment of the Tory government’s controversial spare bedroom subsidy.
Along with others, she successfully campaigned that she should be exempt from paying a tax on her spare bedroom because she has supported accommodation needs.
Louise maintains the act of demonstrating publicly and persistently was key to her eventual victory – and says the power of protest should not be underestimated.
“I was able to stand outside other tenants’ tribunals with placards to raise awareness,” she said.
“Some people were unsuccessful in their cases but the fact that we protested meant the Scottish Government eventually had to step in.
“If no one had protested, the Westminster Tories would have had licence to do whatever they wanted.”
Comedian and political activist Mark Thomas, who is appearing at Dundee Rep on Saturday, is encouraged by the level of protest worldwide just days into Trump’s presidency – regardless of how effective the actions may prove to be.
He added: “It’s so hard to tell whether things will get better or worse but at least people are out there making their voices heard.”