Campaigners and politicians pledge ‘UK’s biggest ever protest’ if Trump visits Birmingham

Politicians and campaigners from Birmingham have reacted angrily to the news Donald Trump’s visit may be relocated to the city in the hope of avoiding huge demonstrations. Supporters of the Stop Trump Coalition, who have pledged to bring a million people on the streets when Trump visits, have today poured scorn on the idea moving the visit out of London will lead to less protests.

Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood, said:
“Birmingham is a wonderfully diverse city, home to people of every background, every faith – President Trump with his hateful and divisive rhetoric, policies and Muslim ban is not welcome here.”

Salma Yaqoob, Birmingham campaigner, said:
“If Donald Trump comes to the great city of Birmingham, our diverse communities will take to the streets in our thousands – and show him what we think about his misogyny, racism, and Islamophobia.”

Kerry Jenkins, Labour councillor for Hall Green Ward, Birmingham, said:
“Birmingham is a diverse and tolerant city that welcomes visitors from around the world but I really hope that Donald Trump is not welcome here. He is a racist and a misogynist who is using his power to divide.
If these rumours are proven I will be calling on all colleagues and citizens to stand together and demonstrate as we have done many times before in our great city when far right politics has reared its ugly head.”

Owen Jones, writer and co-founder of the Stop Trump Coalition, said:
“Donald Trump’s state visit will be marked by the biggest protest against racism and hatred in our country’s history. It doesn’t matter where he goes. We will march in our millions against him, and our government’s collusion, in every town and city in Britain.”

The Stop Trump Coalition are already organising actions all over the UK. On the 20th February tens of thousands of people will participate in a day of action across the country alongside the migrant rights campaign, One Day Without Us. A huge range of actions have already been called for this day. In London, protestors will gather at 6pm in Parliament Square.