LONDON—A police ban aimed at preventing “Stop Trump” protesters from marching through Whitehall when Donald Trump meets Theresa May on a state visit next week will meet furious resistance, organizers say.
Lindsey German, of the Stop the War Coalition, told the Star that protesters will “not accept” the Metropolitan Police’s ban. She is calling on anti-Trump activists to sign a petition that calls on the force to overturn it.
The U.S. President will meet British Prime Minister Theresa May next Tuesday after meeting Queen Elizabeth II the day before. Three days later, May will step down as Prime Minister after announcing her resignation last week.
The meeting could be considered a far-right “handover” exercise, as it is expected that Trump will also meet Boris Johnson, one of those angling for leadership of Conservative Party and thus for May’s job as PM, and possibly Nigel Farage, whose Brexit Party took the largest share of votes in the recent European Parliament elections.
German of the Stop the War Coalition said, “Theresa May saw this meeting as one of her final acts in office, but it’s going to be a disaster and he’s going to insult her.
“Meeting with Johnson and Farage is virtually inevitable given the election results.”
Protesters must be allowed to turn out in full force as close to Downing Street, which is the residence and office of the Prime Minister, as they can get, she added.
“On Friday night, police told us that they will give a space for several thousand people but that we cannot march down nearby Whitehall Road,” German continued.
“We will not accept it, so we will challenge it. We are determined to get as close to Downing Street as possible.
“The Prime Minister has just resigned and invited over a racist, sexist warmonger. If the Tories think that’s a good idea, then they better think again.”
The petition, started by Together Against Trump on Change.org, has received thousands of signatures.
German is urging supporters to sign the petition and said activists will “keep complaining to the police” as well as get MPs to also speak out against the ban.
She added: “We’ll make it clear to our supporters that we will be protesting as widely as possible.
“We will not be put off. We’ve done it before, and we will do it again.”
The petition says: “[The ban] is a denial of the right to protest against a state visit most Londoners oppose. Taxpayers’ money should not be spent shielding Donald Trump from legal protest. We demand protesters be given the right to march.”
Morning Star
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