Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
By 2pm they were operating at full capacity, churning out 200 anti-Trump placards an hour. Here, in a ground-floor office in south London, a small army of volunteers was preparing to register its displeasure at the impending arrival of the US president.
Among those frantically making placards urging protesters to condemn a list of his trangressions was Rosanna Wiseman, who said she was affronted by Trumpism.
The half-Brazilian 28-year-old had witnessed the “toxic” influence of the US president in the form of Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, and rising hate crime in Theresa May’s Britain. “Trump is part of a wave of far-right politicians and has fascist tendencies. We shouldn’t be pandering to him,” said Wiseman.
Also helping staple sheets of card to wooden sticks – as temperatures outside soared to 27C – was Hiba Ahmad, who explained it was time to “make a stand”. Born in Mosul, Iraq, before leaving for Sweden as a refugee and arriving in London in 2013, the 25-year-old added she was also making placards in solidarity with those in Iran who were enduring US sanctions – something she had experienced herself as a child.
“We couldn’t get food, we couldn’t get eggs, oranges, medicines – they simply disappeared.”
Trump’s invitation to London was proof, added Ahmad, that the left had failed to develop a sufficiently cogent campaign against far-right forces. “Trump’s visit is a wake-up call for us to get our shit together,” she said.
Alongside her was Hasib Baber, 35, from nearby Brixton, who had sacrificed the hottest day of the year so far out of concern about the “increasing normalisation of far-right politics”.
“So many groups have been thrown under the bus by Trump, you have to stand in solidarity with them,” said Baber, originally from the former colliery town of Ashington, County Durham. Also present in the ad hoc placard construction centre – inside the offices of campaign group Global Justice Now – was librarian Jean Blaylock, 46, who described Theresa May’s invitation to Trump and members of his family, including daughter Ivanka, pictured below, as “ridiculous” and “cringeworthy”.
Blaylock added: “Last year’s protest against Trump was so inspiring, full of joy and the spirit of resistance, and I expect this to be the same.”
The youngest member of the placard creators was two-year-old Jack Stevenson, who opted simply to concentrate on distributing wooden sticks to nearby volunteers.
“He slept through the last one [Trump’s visit last June] so hopefully he’ll enjoy this one more,” said his father Jonathan, 37.
After securing a fresh batch of wooden sticks from a nearby DIY centre, volunteers said they were on course to produce at least 1,000 placards by early evening.
Trump’s UK itinerary
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
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Among those frantically making placards urging protesters to condemn a list of his trangressions was Rosanna Wiseman, who said she was affronted by Trumpism.
The half-Brazilian 28-year-old had witnessed the “toxic” influence of the US president in the form of Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, and rising hate crime in Theresa May’s Britain. “Trump is part of a wave of far-right politicians and has fascist tendencies. We shouldn’t be pandering to him,” said Wiseman.
Also helping staple sheets of card to wooden sticks – as temperatures outside soared to 27C – was Hiba Ahmad, who explained it was time to “make a stand”. Born in Mosul, Iraq, before leaving for Sweden as a refugee and arriving in London in 2013, the 25-year-old added she was also making placards in solidarity with those in Iran who were enduring US sanctions – something she had experienced herself as a child.
“We couldn’t get food, we couldn’t get eggs, oranges, medicines – they simply disappeared.”
Trump’s invitation to London was proof, added Ahmad, that the left had failed to develop a sufficiently cogent campaign against far-right forces. “Trump’s visit is a wake-up call for us to get our shit together,” she said.
Alongside her was Hasib Baber, 35, from nearby Brixton, who had sacrificed the hottest day of the year so far out of concern about the “increasing normalisation of far-right politics”.
“So many groups have been thrown under the bus by Trump, you have to stand in solidarity with them,” said Baber, originally from the former colliery town of Ashington, County Durham. Also present in the ad hoc placard construction centre – inside the offices of campaign group Global Justice Now – was librarian Jean Blaylock, 46, who described Theresa May’s invitation to Trump and members of his family, including daughter Ivanka, pictured below, as “ridiculous” and “cringeworthy”.
Blaylock added: “Last year’s protest against Trump was so inspiring, full of joy and the spirit of resistance, and I expect this to be the same.”
The youngest member of the placard creators was two-year-old Jack Stevenson, who opted simply to concentrate on distributing wooden sticks to nearby volunteers.
“He slept through the last one [Trump’s visit last June] so hopefully he’ll enjoy this one more,” said his father Jonathan, 37.
After securing a fresh batch of wooden sticks from a nearby DIY centre, volunteers said they were on course to produce at least 1,000 placards by early evening.
Trump’s UK itinerary
Monday
Official welcome by the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace.
The president and first lady go to Westminster Abbey, where Trump will lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown warrior.
Afternoon tea at Clarence House with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Queen hosts a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Tuesday
Business breakfast with the prime minister, the Duke of York and senior UK and US business leaders at St James’s Palace.
Bilateral talks with the prime minister at 10 Downing Street followed by a press conference.
President Trump hosts a banquet at the American ambassador’s residence, Winfield House, in Regent’s Park. The event will be attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Wednesday
The president joins fellow world leaders in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-day landings.
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