London: Thousands of people took to the streets of London to protest against Donald Trump’s second state visit. There was a heavy police presence from Regent Street to Parliament Square as protesters marched through the capital on Wednesday afternoon, with people from as many as 50 campaign groups taking part.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Metropolitan Police reported that up to 5,000 people gathered at a rally in Parliament Square. Prominent speakers, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Green Party leader Zack Polanski, voiced their opposition to Trump’s visit. Polanski criticized the lavishness of the state visit, stating it was “absolutely outrageous” in terms of the expenses and ceremonies involved.
Polanski remarked on the necessity of maintaining relations with the democratically elected American president but opposed the extravagant state visit, which he felt did not align with British values. He highlighted the recent racist marches in the UK, suggesting that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer should have been more proactive in uniting the country rather than hosting Trump with such grandeur.
The peaceful rally, organized by the Stop Trump Coalition, followed a smaller protest in Windsor on Tuesday night. While Trump and his wife Melania were welcomed with military pomp at Windsor Castle, there was a notable absence of supporters or protesters in the Berkshire town. However, Thames Valley Police reported two arrests related to public order incidents connected to the visit on Wednesday afternoon.
At the central London rally, Jeremy Corbyn praised activists who had projected an image of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle. Thames Valley Police also disclosed that four arrests had been made on Tuesday evening in connection with this incident.
Trump’s visit is set to continue on Thursday with a meeting scheduled with the prime minister and his wife at Chequers, following an overnight stay at Windsor Castle.