Maz Saleem asking Brummies about Donald Trump visiting Birmingham (Image: StWUK/IAB)
An anti-racism campaigner has taken to the city streets to ask people what they think of plans to move Donald Trump’s UK state visit to Birmingham.
Questioning members of the public in Birmingham city centre on Monday, Stop the War activist Maz Saleem quizzed a range of Brummies on how they felt about the possibility of the US President coming to the Midlands.
Although some suggested Trump should visit and be challenged, most offered a resounding negative response to a West Midlands visit from the US Head of State, declaring they would protest against his presence.
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Last week, a national petition calling for Donald Trump’s state visit to be cancelled was rejected by Prime Minister Theresa May after garnering 1.8 million signatures from across the country; but it didn’t stop Brummies from signing a petition last week calling for Trump to be banned from Birmingham, following news his official UK visit could be relocated for security and logistical reasons.
The petition, set up by Birmingham Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne, has so far attracted over 2,865 signatures.
Since Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th President of the United States last month, there have been three large protests in Birmingham against the US leader.
Coinciding with similar demonstrations across the country and the world, many protesters are angered by Trump’s rhetoric and policies targeting minority groups, especially the Mexican and Muslim community.
A protest against Donald Trump taking place in Birmingham city centre on February 4, 2017 (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
This has included Trump describing Mexicans as “drug dealers, criminals, rapists”; and the signing of an executive order banning travel to the US from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
The next national day of action against Donald Trump is taking place on Monday 20th February – on the day MPs debate the President’s state visit – in a bid to add continuing pressure on the British government.
Thousands are expected to demonstrate in London and towns and cities across the UK, lead by the Stand Up To Trump and Stop Trump coalitions, supported by Stop the War, Stand Up To Racism, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Muslim Council, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), various trade unions, politicians and celebrities.
Campaign ‘One Day Without Us’ will be staging a day of activities demonstrating what life would be like without immigrants and refugees, on the same day.
Anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem questioned Brummies about Donald Trump’s possible visit to Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
The Stand Up To Trump committee are also holding a National Organising Summit in London on Saturday 18th February, which will be attended by activists, artists, politicians and entertainers, including comedian Shappi Korsandi, Birmingham anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem, writer and broadcaster Tariq Ali, Phyllis Opoku-gyimah from Black Pride, Mohammed Kozbar, of the Muslim Association of Britain, the People’s Assembly’s Sam Fairbairn, Kevin Courtney from the National Union of Teachers (NUT), and Ben Jamal on behalf of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
In Birmingham, an anti-Trump rally will begin outside the Birmingham City University’s (BCU) city centre campus at 4pm, before a march from outside Waterstones in High Street at 5pm, followed by a final gathering in Victoria Square at 6pm.
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