Trump’s state visit to Britain: Opposition gathers on a massive scale

Mass opposition to Trump’s visit to Britain, July 2, 2018.

The organization Together Against Trump is mobilizing for the biggest possible protests against the official state visit of Donald Trump to Britain, June 3-5. Together Against Trump has called a national protest for June 4 from 11:00 am, assembling in Trafalgar Square. There will be music and a rally in the Square starting around noon and then a march to wherever Trump is at the time. Trump’s itinerary has not been announced so the plan is flexible. There will also be other protests from the day Trump arrives through to three days of his visit. Trump is also to travel to France on June 6 for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. A visit to Ireland is as yet unconfirmed. What is confirmed is that Trump has not been invited to address the British House of Commons due to the opposition of many MPs as well as members of the House of Lords.

Workers’ Weekly and other newspapers report that the opposition to Trump’s visit is set to be even greater than in July 2018, when the U.S. President avoided London altogether.

“The opposition is directed not only to the warmongering and anti-human behaviour synonymous with Trump’s Presidency. It is also directed against the British government and the Queen as head of state, which have issued the invitation. It is this that people are declaring is Not In Our Name!”

“Stand Up to Trump” is the slogan the anti-war movement is organizing around. Workers’ Weekly points out: “It is being emphasized that it is the people’s forces, the human power, which must and will hold the U.S. imperialists and their cohorts in check. Not only this, but the people have their own agenda. This is to take a stand for those things which make for peace and against aggression. It is to fight for an anti-war government, with a democratic personality consistent with the human factor, and to ensure an end to aggression and for the establishment of relations of peace between peoples.”[1]

“As the Trump presidency ramps up its aggressive build-up against Iran, and as it attempts to bring about regime change in Venezuela, as it imposes illegal sanctions against progressive regimes, the imperative to take a stand and build the movement against crimes against the peace becomes ever stronger,” Workers’ Weekly states. “The stand of the peoples of the world for peace will prevail, as the peoples fight for their own empowerment. This is a focus of priority on the people’s agenda.”

Another important demand of the people’s movement in this context is to remove all U.S./NATO bases from Britain. Workers’ Weekly writes: “The peoples of Britain cannot countenance such bases of aggression, imperialist domination and ‘hard power’ on their soil. They fly in the face of the work for peace and an end to the Anglo-U.S. doctrine of chaos, ‘controlled’ or otherwise. Furthermore, in pursuance of this ‘hard power,’ both in Britain and the U.S., Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stated that stepping up this ‘hard power’ is one of three pillars in the government’s vision of a future Britain. Like Trump, he has urged an increase in military spending, and has pledged to do the same, praising the military might of ‘our great ally’ the United States and its ‘unquestioned dominance.’ This, in itself, cannot go unquestioned. It is certain that when the British government hosts in December the NATO 70th anniversary meeting, opposition to this warmongering institution, whose raison d’être cannot be justified, will be manifest. Certainly NATO is opposed, among other reasons, for its attempt to impose U.S. ‘hard power’ both in Europe and globally.”

London, July 2, 2018, during Trump’s visit to the city.

“Just as in the United States, where the people’s forces are taking a stand against the direction in which the U.S. is headed, so too people in Britain are saying No to crimes against humanity, and in particular are affirming that any ‘special relationship’ with Trump’s United States is not in their name. Rather, they are saying that the struggle for their rights and for the rights of all must prevail against the efforts of the ruling elites within Britain and the U.S. to trample on these rights.

“This is crucial, since all attempts to blame sections of the people for what is the responsibility of those pursuing the global neo-liberal agenda and creating chaos must be rejected. It is precisely this agenda and those responsible for implementing it that are generating such anarchy and violence. In this respect, and in the context of defending the rights of all, the people are rejecting as not in their name the attacks on the rights of immigrant working people, refugees and those seeking asylum. It is clear that it is the global marauding of the ruling elites representing the oligopolies and their exploitation of the peoples and material resources globally, as well as “regime change” and their destructive activities against what they cannot control, that is and has been creating the crisis of displaced persons, human trafficking and an international reserve army of cheap labour.

“As part of the opposition to Trump’s state visit, the anti-war and people’s movements are opposing unjust wars and big power intervention and interference which goes by the name of nation-wrecking and from which the plight of people seeking a better life, demanding asylum and fleeing conflict cannot be separated. Ultimately, the demand is that these very people, as an integral part of the international working class, be empowered to be able to control their own lives and find stability. The movement is very aware of the stands of working people in the U.S. itself which will not countenance Trump’s all-out attack on the rights of all.”

Develop the Movement against War and for an Anti-War Government!
All Out to Build the Opposition to Trump’s State Visit!

Note

1. Workers’ Weekly, May 18, 2019.

(Photos: Workers’ Weekly)

TML Weekly, May 25, 2019 – No. 19