When Donald Trump arrives in the UK for his first state visit to that country, hundreds of thousands of protesters are promising to give him a rowdy welcome which includes paralyzing London through mass demonstrations.
Over 20,000 police officers are expected to secure a total of 20 events across the country.
Central London will “host” the main protest as organizers claimed that about 250,000 people will march starting from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square. The protesters got permission from Scotland Yard to stage their protest near Downing Street during President Trump’s lunch there with Prime Minister Theresa May.
Two separate groups, Stop Trump and Stand Up To Trump, are cooperating and orchestrating the logistics for various other activists for their so-called “carnival of resistance.”
A Stand Up To Trump spokesman said: “We will be bringing central London to a standstill. By the time he leaves he will know, and the world will know, that people here reject him and his toxic politics.”
“We will make it clear to the British Government it’s not OK to normalize Trump’s agenda and the fear it has sparked,” added Stop Trump.
The coming protests are in sharp contrast to the full red carpet that the Royal Family has planned for the First Couple which includes royal gun salutes and no less than four tribute events.
The infamous “baby Trump” blimp that was first flown during Trump’s first visit to the UK as President is expected to make a reappearance. London’s mayor has already given approval although protesters are still waiting for final approval from the Metropolitan Police before they can launch it.
Another caricature is also expected to make its debut in the form of a giant talking robot depicting Trump with his trousers on his ankles while sitting on a gold toilet. It emits recordings of some of Trump’s more controversial pronouncements, such as “you are fake news,” “no collusion,” and “I’m a very stable genius.” The robot has already been shipped to the UK from China.
The Women’s Peace Council doesn’t believe that Trump “deserves this red carpet treatment” which is why they are also staging their own rally called The People’s Banquet.
Even Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry is planning to join the main rally and issued a call using #StopTrump for her supporters to join because Trump “is destroying all the values that have always united Britain and America.”
Labor’s women and equality spokesman Dawn Butler MP also issued a call, saying: “If you do one thing next week, it’s come out on your lunch break and stand up against Trump.
“Stand up against all of the hatred that he uses to elevate himself and say, ‘Not here, not in our country. We don’t want it and we don’t want you.'”
Because of the potential that the protests could turn violent, the Metropolitan Police is on its toes. They pointed out that protesters could use the same tactics employed at the Extinction Rebellion protests where huge swaths of the capital were closed for days because of the protesters.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “It’s a concern because we would not want that type of activity to happen again. I am never going to sit here and tell you that type of incident will never happen again because there are some things we can do in policing and some things we can’t.”
If anything, the message is clear: ordinary Brits don’t like Trump.