{"id":94624,"date":"2025-09-18T03:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T03:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=94624"},"modified":"2025-09-18T03:42:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T03:42:00","slug":"thousands-protest-against-trumps-second-uk-state-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=94624","title":{"rendered":"Thousands protest against Trump\u2019s second UK state visit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thousands of people have gathered in Parliament Square for a rally against US President Donald Trump\u2019s second state visit.<\/p>\n

Organisers Stop Trump Coalition \u2013 a group of more than 50 unions and charities \u2013 marched from central London\u2019s Portland Place towards Whitehall at around 15:00 BST.<\/p>\n

Some protesters carried signs with slogans written across them, including \u201cno to racism\u201d, \u201cno to Trump\u201d and \u201cstop arming Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n

Others carried smaller versions of the 20-foot Trump Baby blimp that floated through crowds during protests against the president\u2019s first state visit in 2019.<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Police estimated that up to 5,000 people were in attendance.<\/p>\n

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More than 1,600 police officers had been deployed, including 500 from other forces, the force said.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Wednesday, the Met Police\u2019s Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Louise Puddefoot, said it would be \u201canother busy day\u201d for officers. This protest came just days after the Unite the Kingdom protest.<\/p>\n

She added that police had been in \u201cclose contact\u201d with the organisers and had asked all taking part to be \u201cconsiderate to the local community\u201d and keep disruption to a minimum.<\/p>\n

The Stop Trump Coalition includes groups ranging from climate campaigners to anti-racism groups and pro-Palestine organisations.<\/p>\n

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Ahead of the march, a spokesperson for the coalition said: \u201cA government that will bow down to Trump and to racism is one that will open the door to fascism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Trump was not visiting Parliament, the protest groups said they would demonstrate to \u201cdefeat the politics of Trumpism\u201d and to promote \u201can alternative, democratic vision of the world based on peace, social justice and international cooperation\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the midst of the crowds \u2013 which started gathering near BBC Broadcasting House \u2013 people told the BBC why they were there, racking up a long list of grievances against the US president. They said they found him \u201cdespicable\u201d and wanted to send a message that he was not welcome.<\/p>\n

Reverend Poppy Hughes, who was asked about those who said vicars should be apolitical, replied: \u201cJesus preached peace and compassion and that\u2019s why I\u2019m here\u201d.<\/p>\n

Reverend Poppy Hughes came because of the teachings of Jesus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zoe Gardner, a political commentator and one of the organisers of Wednesday\u2019s protest, said that Trump \u201crepresents everything that we hate\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want our government to show some backbone, and have a little bit of pride and represent that huge feeling of disgust at Donald Trump\u2019s politics in the UK,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Climate campaigner Auriel Dowty Glanville from Wimbledon said she was demonstrating because she believed the president was a \u201cclimate denier\u201d and climate change was \u201cthe biggest threat facing us on Earth\u201d.<\/p>\n

She called the second state visit invite \u201cappalling\u201d, adding: \u201cIt\u2019s all about the trade deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Auriel Dowty Glanville has dressed up with her take on the Statue of Liberty for the protest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sarah Montgomery and Claudio Solano, from North London, arrived in white protective face masks that read \u201cTrump stinks\u201d.<\/p>\n

They said they had had the masks since Trump\u2019s first state visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe still stinks,\u201d Ms Montgomerysaid. \u201cEverything he stands for stinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Solano, from Brazil, said he disagreed with both Trump\u2019s policies and his support for Brazil\u2019s former right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is disgusting, and I don\u2019t understand why Britain has to be so cowardly,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

As the crowd moved, it paused outside Downing Street, which was being protected by officers from Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

Some of the demonstrators carried signs including \u201cDuck Off Donald\u201d and \u201cFeed him to the Corgis\u201d.<\/p>\n

At Parliament Square \u2013 where the march stopped \u2013 a number of people took to a stage. There was a performance from singer Billy Bragg.<\/p>\n

Other speakers included former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, comedian Nish Kumar, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski.<\/p>\n

A small crowd of protesters also gathered in Windsor on Wednesday afternoon, where Trump is spending the day with the Royal Family ahead of the state banquet.<\/p>\n

Amy Tisi told the BBC she protested the last time Trump visited and it was \u201cimportant to make a stand\u201d. She said she questioned if the \u201csize and scale\u201d of the trip was meant to fuel his ego.<\/p>\n

But one Trump supporter, wearing a Davy Crockett hat, called him \u201cthe greatest president\u201d. His remark was met with a chorus of boos from parts of the crowd.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Wednesday, a van decorated with a photograph of the president and late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was driven through Berkshire.<\/p>\n

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said the driver had left after a conversation with the police, adding: \u201cNo arrests were made and no vehicles were seized.\u201d<\/p>\n

Referring to this incident during his speech in London, Corbyn called it \u201csinister\u201d that the van was stopped by police, preventing people from \u201cexpressing a point of view\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey take away the right to protest because they don\u2019t want us to protest,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Four men were arrested\u00a0after images of Trump and Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday as the president arrived in the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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