Thousands of protesters took to the streets of London on Wednesday to protest against the second state visit of President Donald Trump.
Demonstrators gathered from around 2 p.m., local time, with many holding anti-Trump signs emblazoned with slogans such as “Go away, Trump” and “Stop Trump.” Some protesters could also be seen waving Palestinian flags as they called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.
Organized by the Stop Trump Coalition, attendees marched towards the British parliament. The protest had additional support from groups connected to climate activism and gender equality.
The Stop Trump Coalition said that a number of protests would begin around 6 p.m. local time across the rest of the U.K. in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Newcastle.
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A number of “Baby Trump” replica balloons were on display amongst the crowd in central London.
“We want our government to show some backbone, and have a little bit of pride and represent that huge feeling of disgust at Donald Trump’s politics in the UK,” Zoe Gardner, one of the protest’s organizers, told the BBC.
“We have heard from people across the political spectrum who will be joining in the protest today, because the majority agree that we should not be rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump. The large numbers of people marching today are telling [U.K. Prime Minister Keir] Starmer and his government that they must stand up to Trump,” a spokesperson for the Stop Trump Coalition said in a statement to TIME.
Metropolitan Police deployed around 1,600 officers to the protest in London, 500 of whom have come from other departments across the U.K.
Meanwhile, protests have also taken place in Windsor, where Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania, are being hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Activist group Led by Donkeys timed large-scale images of Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to project onto Windsor Castle minutes after the President landed in London on Tuesday night.
Thames Valley Police arrested four people on suspicion of malicious communications in relation to the stunt.
On Monday, protesters unveiled a large banner emblazoned with an image of Trump and Epstein on the lawn outside Windsor Castle. The banner was removed prior to Trump’s arrival.
The post ‘Go Away’: Major Anti-Trump Demonstration Unfolds in London as Protesters Rally Against President’s U.K. State Visit appeared first on TIME.
