Thousands of demonstrators from several organized groups are marching through central London to protest President Trump’s visit to the UK – chanting “Donald Trump’s not welcome here” holding up posters with all sorts of interesting things on them.
Descending on London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, organizers claim about 100,000 people showed up for the protests – though at last report there were 50,000 people signed up – which would be the largest weekday protest in London since the 2003 demonstrations against the Iraq war. London’s Metropolitan Police have not confirmed the size of the crowd.
Thousands join #TrumpProtest in London’s Regent Street as #TrumpVisitUK continues
Follow our coverage: https://t.co/BlLsEwC8Y6 pic.twitter.com/35VZmL4mTt
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 13, 2018
Thousands of protesters gather in London’s Trafalgar Square to protest the UK visit of US President Donald Trump @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/ZATGLWgS37
— Haley Joelle Ott (@haleyjoelleott) July 13, 2018
“It’s nice to see so many people gathered for one cause,” protester Rania Belarbi told CBS News. “We’re all gathered for love, for equality, for togetherness, so that’s a great message that we’re sending out to the world.”
Perhaps the most anticipated participant was a $23,000 20-foot crowdsourced “Trump baby” balloon depicting Trump as an angry diapered baby clutching a cell phone with Twitter open on the screen.
Wow! Tremendous win for #TrumpBaby supporters! This is BIG news that nobody saw happening – I am going on a World Tour! Wherever little Donald goes, I will be close behind. There is so much good to do, the world needs #TrumpBaby! https://t.co/aZXE1uREl0? pic.twitter.com/3rkd21GMhL
— Trump Baby (@TrumpBabyUK) June 27, 2018
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has clashed for months on Twitter with Mr. Trump, had to give the final approval for “Trump baby” to fly. Mr. Trump has acknowledged that he feels unwelcome in the British capital, suggesting it was part of the reason he wasn’t spending much time there during his U.K. visit. –CBS News
Except, 20 feet isn’t that big when you actually get it in the air. For reference, Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade balloons are around 60 feet long and 30 feet wide.
That’s it?!#TrumpBabyBlimp pic.twitter.com/FPWi664wyD
— DEPLORABLE MEDIA (@correctthemedia) July 13, 2018
LOL. Now this is funny. Remember the Hindenburg sized blimp of Trump over London that was going to rock his world?
This is it.
Blimey… it’s not even the size of a Bouncy castle. Trust the socialists to cock up everything. Mock them mercilessly over this. pic.twitter.com/Owo5zX1vep
— DJSmith (@davidjacksmith) July 13, 2018
That said, the Trump balloon was apparently downsized from its original incarnation.
A smaller version of the no infamous “Trump baby” balloon, which London Mayor Sadiq Khan gave permission to fly over Parliament Square on Friday morning, made an appearance among the throngs of protesters later in the day. –CBS News
“We took some of the hot air out of bigger Donald, some of the narcissism, some of the fascism, and a little bit of the xenophobia,” said Barny Francis, one of the people holding the smaller balloon. “We put it into this smaller version of him, Francis continued.
“So he’s still full of hot gas, it’s just a little version of him now. This is mini-Donald,” he said, adding that the larger balloon was on a “secret mission.”
Trump has supporters in the UK too…
Not everyone in the UK is melting down over Trump’s visit…
Tensions have flared as a small group of pro-Donald Trump demonstrators exchanged chants with anti-Trump protesters near London’s Trafalgar Square.
“We love Trump!” about 10 demonstrators chanted as police officers standing shoulder to shoulder kept the two opposing groups apart.
The anti-Trump protesters, of whom there were dozens at the location, responded with chants of “Fascists go home!” –CBS News
Police separate pro-Trump demonstrators shouting “We love Trump!” from anti-Trump protesters in London @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/KlAxBywwNp
— Haley Joelle Ott (@haleyjoelleott) July 13, 2018
— Haley Joelle Ott (@haleyjoelleott) July 13, 2018
A lone #Trump supporter on Parliament Square is surrounded by angry anti-Trump protestors, where @TrumpBabyUK is flying high.#TrumpVisitUK #TrumpBabyBlimp #TrumpProtests #talkRADIOTrump pic.twitter.com/fk3nBpm6Xw
— talkRADIO (@talkRADIO) July 13, 2018
Meanwhile, several conservative groups are holding their own separate rallies to welcome Trump to their country.
On Saturday, a “Welcome Trump” rally will take Trump fans from outside the new American Embassy in the southwest of the city all the way to Downing Street. British police have imposed tight restrictions on this demonstration, as well as a simultaneous march in support of right-wing activist Robinson, who is currently serving a 13-month jail term for contempt of court related to his breaking of reporting restrictions.
The Republicans Overseas U.K. group will be holding a rally to welcome the president to Britain’s shores. Though the location of the event is being disclosed only to those who have purchased tickets—costing between $19 to $26—the organizers said it would take place at a private club in central London. –Newsweek
I’ve never had time to protest.
I’m too busy WORKING#FridayFeeIing https://t.co/eckEhYkGPi
— 🇺🇸Michael Flynn Jr🇺🇸 (@mflynnJR) July 13, 2018
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