Stand Up To Trump is one of the key coalitions organising demonstrations and rallies against Donald Trump’s planned visit to the UK (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Birmingham was high on the agenda in London this afternoon, as opposition to Trump’s visit to the UK was discussed at the Stand Up To Trump organising summit, ahead of Monday’s national day of action against the US President.
In speech after speech, individuals from across the country – including community leaders, trade union officials and supporters of the anti-Trump movement – referenced solidarity with the second city, amid recent revelations that Donald Trump’s state visit could be moved to the city.
The national organising summit, held in Friends House in Kings Cross, hosted a cross section of activists, artists, politicians and entertainers, including Birmingham anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem, Mohammed Kozbar of the Muslim Association of Britain, musician Dave Randall, the People’s Assembly’s Sam Fairbairn, Kevin Courtney from the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Lindsey German and John Rees from Stop the War, and Ben Jamal on behalf of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The Stand Up To Trump organising summit took place at Friends House in London
Nahella Ashraf from Stand Up to Racism in Manchester addressed the audience:
“They’ve said that they can’t have the Trump visit in London because the demonstration would be too big. They’re going to move it to Birmingham. This idea that the people of Birmingham won’t come out and demonstrate? Who are they kidding?
“I mean, I’m from Manchester and it’s far easier to get coaches to Birmingham than it is to London. So let’s say that it’s the ‘centre’ of the country, we need to bring out hundreds and thousands of people to actually show them that their racism is not accepted.”
A contingent of attendees from Birmingham was applauded and praised for campaigning against a possible visit from Trump. Stuart Richardson from Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and Bridget Parsons from Stand Up To Racism Birmingham were among those who spoke at the event.
Anti-racism campaigner Maz Saleem – who earlier this week took to the streets of Birmingham to quiz Brummies on their reaction to Trump visiting the city – called on the general public to mobilise against the government’s decision to ignore a public petition, signed by 1.8 million people, which demanded theTrump state visit be cancelled.
“I am protesting Trump’s state visit not only for the same reasons we all know, he is not fit to be in office, he has even called Mexican immigrants “rapists”. The ensuing drip feed of ‘Trumpian’ absurdities and offences has had a desensitising effect. We know that Trump is a racist, a misogynist, an authoritarian, and a narcissist.
“Outrageously, on Holocaust Memorial Day, Donald Trump ordered the Muslim ban – at a time to remember the millions of people who were murdered and the lives that were changed as a result of the Holocaust. History will remember that.
Maz Saleem condemns the #MuslimBan which was introduced on Holocaust Memorial Day @CampaignerMaz #notrump pic.twitter.com/6jSiOI2Fe3
— Stand UpToTrump (@StandUp2TrumpUK) February 18, 2017
“It is vital that we build a broad and sustained movement that maintains the opposition to Trump. Our primary goal is to pressure Theresa May into cancelling the state visit, but if it does goes ahead, we will be ready to mobilise on a massive scale.”
Talha Ahmad from the Muslim Council of Britain urged Brummies to defend their city against hate (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Muslim Council of Britain representative Talha Ahmad, originally from the Nechells area, defended Birmingham’s diversity and insisted Trump would not be welcome.
“Birmingham is my home-town and I don’t think my city would want to welcome a man who advances these kinds of divisive policies.
“As a US resident, he is most welcome to visit Britain. However, he must do so once he has retracted from his policies, not before.”
#notrump Stand Up To Trump Summit – all out for tomorrow’s protest anti parliament pic.twitter.com/laMsgH7Dvz
— BLM Movement (@blacklivesmatUK) February 18, 2017
Musician and activist Dave Randall believes protests would take place regardless of which city Donald Trump’s state visit takes place (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Musician and activist Dave Randall joined attendees at the summit. Asked whether he thought it would make any difference if Trump visited Birmingham instead of London, he replied:
“I don’t think it will. I think there will be massive protests all over the country, wherever he goes. Wherever they find him a hall to visit, I think that particular city will definitely be shut down but actually I think that cities across the country would come to a standstill because that is the mood that exists at the moment.
“People do not want him to come here. they certainly don’t £10 million of tax payer’s money to be spent on this state visit when that money could be used to give the unaccompanied children who are trying to seek refuge – who were promised refuge in this country, and that promise has now been withdrawn – that ten million could be used to welcome them.”
“It’s an absolute disgrace that, instead, this government wants to spend it on Donald Trump.”
In a recorded video message, Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said:
“So, us speaking out on it means these issues are discussed and debated, and also makes it stronger in our relationship with people on both sides of the Atlantic. This is about the kind of world we want to live in. This is about peace, justice and democracy. Thank you all for being there today. Let us all work together to bring those things out.”
David Rosenberg, leader of the Jewish Socialist Group, added:
“Across the world, people of all communities, backgrounds, generations, are resisting Trump’s vision of hate. The wave of protest is coming from below. Coalitions like Stand Up To Trump and Stop Trump have a big job to do in the coming weeks and months. That job is not to leave but to facilitate, to assist, to encourage, and to amplify the voices and demands of decent ordinary people in all our diversity, and make them as powerful and effective as powerful. Stay angry, stay hopeful and stand up.
A Stand Up ToTrump poster featuring a ‘Ghostbusters’ like Trump design (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
On Monday, thousands are expected to voice their anger at the Prime Minister’s decision to continue to accommodate the Trump administration.
Demonstrations are planned for London and across British towns and cities, 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 also be staging a day of activities demonstrating what life would be like without immigrants and refugees.
In line with national action, an anti-Trump rally will also be taking place 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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