Thousands march in London against Trump’s travel ban

World Today

protest in LondonPeople hold a banner as they take part in a protest march in London, against U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on travellers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries entering the U.S., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In London, for the second time in a week, thousands have taken to the streets, protesting against U.S. President Donald Trump’s seven-nation travel ban. All the countries named in the President’s Executive Order have a majority Muslim population.

Demonstrators in the UK capital marched from the US Embassy to the gates of No.10 Downing Street, the official residence of UK Prime Minister Theresa May. As Richard Bestic reports, they’re demanding President Trump withdraw his ban.

Thousands of kilometers from Washington and the intensity of feeling that surrounds U.S. President Donald Trump’s seven-nation travel ban shows no sign of letting up. The streets of London are again choked by those protesting Trump’s Executive Order.

The protest follows a European Union summit in Malta, where UK Prime Minister Theresa May offered to act as a bridge to the Trump administration. Her efforts firmly rejected by the other 27 EU Presidents and Prime Ministers.
She returned to London only to find anti-Trump protests on the streets of her capital.

Demonstrators

Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a protest outside the U.S. embassy in London, against U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on travellers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries entering the U.S., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

There is another element of anger to this protest – separate and distinct from the demonstration against President Trump’s travel ban. It is the decision by the UK Prime Minister to invite the US President to London for dinner with the Queen and a State visit.

Protestors called on Prime Minister May to withdraw her controversial invitation to President Trump – something the UK leader has so far refused to do.