On Monday 20th February The British Parliament debated whether or not to allow Donald Trump a state visit, after the invitation extended by the Prime Minister Theresa May when she visited Washington DC just 7 days after Trump’s inauguration.
1.8 million people signed a petition asking to withdraw the invitation, while a further 300,000 people signed another petition in favor of the visit. These two petitions were discussed in Westminster Hall yesterday.
In coordination with One Day Without Us: UK National Protest, the journalist Owen Jones and Stop Trump Coalition called for a nationwide day of action on February 20th “ to stand up and say no to the future of hatred, racism and division that Donald Trump is trying to create – and to say no to the disgraceful complicity of Theresa May and the British government in supporting him”.
Around 7,000 people gathered in Parliament Square to listen to speakers including MPs, Union leaders and members of anti-racist associations. Similar events took place in many other cities all over the country.
Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan said: “We believe it is absolutely right that we should us all the tools at our disposal to build common ground with President Trump”, confirming the government’s intention to maintain the invitation.
The debate ended without a vote about the visit, but the protests show that the arrival of Trump will be faced by a wide opposition.
