PICS: 'Trump baby' flies outside UK parliament as London braces for protests

Published Jun 4, 2019

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London - A giant inflatable blimp

depicting Donald Trump as a sneering baby in a diaper flew

outside the British parliament in London on Tuesday ahead of

what is expected to be one of the city's largest protests

against a foreign leader.

The six-meter (20 foot) high blimp was raised in Parliament

Square at 0900 GMT. It is due to be airborne when Trump holds

talks with the outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May

nearby in Downing Street.

Trump and his wife Melania arrived on Monday for a three-day

state visit - a pomp-laden affair that involved a banquet at

Buckingham Palace on Monday evening.

Leo Murray, 42, the co-creator of the blimp, said: "We're

trying to remind the president how unwelcome he is in this

country.

"We're also, in a light-hearted way, trying to articulate

the strength of feeling against Donald Trump and his politics of

hate," he said. "We want to put a smile on people's faces as

well as make a serious point."

Around 100 activists counted down from 10 to one for the

launch of the blimp, which was first used during Trump's visit

to London last year. It was tethered a few meters off the

ground.

The launch marked what is expected to be a day of protests

across the country. In central London the leader of Britain's

opposition Labour Party will join tens of thousands in a

"Carnival of Resistance" against the president.

Jeremy Corbyn, who will speak at the rally after snubbing

Monday night's banquet at Buckingham Palace, said it was an

"opportunity to stand in solidarity with those he's attacked in

America, around the world and in our own country".

Among those taking part will be environmental activists,

anti-racism campaigners and women's rights protesters.

Police will close the road directly outside Downing Street

to protect the president and his family.

In Britain, Trump's ban on travel to the United States from

several primarily Muslim countries, the decision to withdraw the

United States from a global deal to combat climate change, and

his criticism of British politicians have helped stoke

opposition to his presidency.

The state dinner held in the president's honour was

boycotted by several lawmakers, including the leader of

Britain's Liberal Democrat party as well as Corbyn and other

senior Labour figures.

The U.S. president's supporters said it was an insult to

snub the leader of Britain's closest ally. But the demonstrators

have received tactical support from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan,

who has repeatedly clashed with the president and who gave

permission to fly the blimp.

Trump called the mayor a "stone-cold loser" shortly before

he arrived in Britain and has in the past accused him of failing

to do enough to stop deadly terror attacks in London.

POMP AND PROTESTS

Trump said he is "loved" in Britain despite the protests. He

said he was closer to Britain than any other American leader,

citing his mother's Scottish roots and the two golf courses he

owns in the country.

"Tremendous crowds of well wishers and people that love our

country," Trump said in a tweet on Monday.

"Haven't seen any protests yet, but I'm sure the Fake News

will be working hard to find them. Great love all around."

The first day of Trump's visit was taken up with royal

engagements and ceremonies. The focus switches to business and

politics on Tuesday.

There was a heavy police presence in Whitehall, the centre

of Britain's government, on Tuesday, with metal barriers and

concrete blocks used to close the southern part of the street.

Protesters from all over Britain have travelled to London

to join the demonstrations. Other protests against Trump's visit

are planned in 14 cities and towns.

Trump's last visit in July cost police more than 14.2

million pounds ($17.95 million). At the time, 10,000 officers

were deployed from all over Britain.

London's Metropolitan police said 2,591 officers were

deployed on Monday for the visit.

Scott Lucas, a professor of international and American

studies at the University of Birmingham, said other U.S.

presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush have faced

large protests in Britain.

He said the protests typically tend to be larger for

American presidents than leaders from other countries such as

China or Saudi Arabia because the two countries are historic

allies.

"America is our friend and you have to be able to speak to

your friends in a certain way," he said.

"You are usually more concerned about someone who is in your

own household, or your neighbour down the street, than someone

who is in the next village or town." 

Reuters

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