Trump comes to town, 13th July 2018 - mass protests expected

[seeformiles]

There are millions of people around the country whose reaction to Trump visiting is going to be "I want to go and call him a cunt". I think this is entirely proper and healthy.

I won’t deny that that tactic is valid and the most obvious first line of defence but, as he’s used to this and thrives on such attention, it may be better to give him something he’s not expecting i.e. silence and turning your back. It would make a very surreal live coverage of the event.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I won’t deny that that tactic is valid and the most obvious first line of defence but, as he’s used to this and thrives on such attention, it may be better to give him something he’s not expecting i.e. silence and turning your back. It would make a very surreal live coverage of the event.

It's not for him though - he doesn't care, whatever happens.

 

[maomao]

I turned up for Bush. I don't see why I shouldn't turn up for Trump. It's one thing arguing with people about why Trump's happened and what the real problems are but I don't think any US president should arrive in this country without some protest.

 

[seeformiles]

It's not for him though - he doesn't care, whatever happens.

True - I just wonder whether more subtle targeted action might be more effective against someone who appears oblivious to conventional protests against him. (& I’m someone who threw eggs at Casper Weinberger back in the day )

 

[DotCommunist]

he's bone obsessed with numbers, be they mythical bank account figures, crowds for his inauguration, the ratings of which ever soap star he is cunting off on twitter or what have you. So more the merrier, play 'who can collect all the trot/etc literature' and the favourite game for out of towners 'oh shit I don't think I can get back through this crowd quick enough to make my train/bus' game. That last ones a bit shit tbf

 

[Yossarian]

Shouldn't think 'hated by European liberals' would do Trump much harm with his base either.

There still seems to be some lingering feeling among some Americans that British people are smarter and classier than average, I think having massive protests in Britain will be a major embarrassment for Trump at the very least.

And yeah, there are a lot of other things people could be protesting, but his climate policies alone are going to screw us all, which makes him a very legitimate target for protest anyplace he goes.

 

[klang]

I just wonder whether more subtle targeted action

i'd rather make his visit as expensive as possible.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

True - I just wonder whether more subtle targeted action might be more effective against someone who appears oblivious to conventional protests against him. (& I’m someone who threw eggs at Casper Weinberger back in the day )

I don't think that any protests against him would actually change his view - he's such a dedicated narcissist.

All we have left is (a) indicating to the government that he's incredibly unpopular and attempts to ally with him would be political death, and (b) showing that to any foreign journalists who care at all. We hate this person who's been invited over; this can't be passed off as a nice diplomatic visit. We need to make sure that nobody can even get a shot of him anywhere outdoors in London without a sign somewhere in the background calling him a cunt.

 

[yield]

Every woman I know thinks Trump is a cunt and given half a chance they'd stick a, er, stick of dynamite up his arse. But they're probably all whining liberals who moan too much about creepy men grabbing pussies right?

After all, why would anyone protest against a corrupt millionaire who has bought his way to power, paying off those other rich business cunts he's owed favours on the way eh? Especially when Kanye thinks otherwise.

Fucking liberals.

Some of my best friends are liberals.

Make allies with those who are there, rather than those you wish were there. I'll be going.

 

[SpookyFrank]

The winners will be the SWP front that takes credit for the organisation,

That hasn't worked for them the last 476,451,306,127 times they've done it tbf.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Personally I'm more interested in what mischief can be got up to while every copper in the land is down in London protecting the imbecile in chief.

 

[redsquirrel]

, talk of Poll Tax style shenans,

Never going to happen not in a million years. Utterly deluded to think they will be any more "messy" than the anti-Bush protests. It'll very much be an establishment affair, plenty of wanker politicians giving speeches.

I turned up for Bush. I don't see why I shouldn't turn up for Trump. It's one thing arguing with people about why Trump's happened and what the real problems are but I don't think any US president should arrive in this country without some protest.

While I agree with the second sentence I think there are significant differences between the protests when Bush came and how the anti-Trump protests seem to be shaping up.

First, the Bush protests were part of the anti-war protests which had the potential to feed into something, unfortunately all that promise was pissed up against the wall, but nevertheless at the time there was the idea of something more coming from them. Second, while there was an establishment presence on the Bush protests, you had a very significant proportion of the establishment supporting the war and so the protests were against the powers that be to at least some extent (which feeds back into the fist point).

I hope I'm wrong but I don't see any anti-Trump protest becoming part of something wider or deeper and I would be amazed if it's not shot through with the establishment. Chock full of Labour and LD politicians, maybe even a few Cons.

 

[xenon]

Gestures are performative.

 

[ska invita]

Never going to happen not in a million years. Utterly deluded to think they will be any more "messy" than the anti-Bush protests. It'll very much be an establishment affair, plenty of wanker politicians giving speeches.

at a location nowhere near where Trump is

 

[Red Sky]

Compensation for wrongful arrest flowed thick and fast after the Bush visit.

 

[yield]

Never going to happen not in a million years. Utterly deluded to think they will be any more "messy" than the anti-Bush protests. It'll very much be an establishment affair, plenty of wanker politicians giving speeches.

While I agree with the second sentence I think there are significant differences between the protests when Bush came and how the anti-Trump protests seem to be shaping up.

First, the Bush protests were part of the anti-war protests which had the potential to feed into something, unfortunately all that promise was pissed up against the wall, but nevertheless at the time there was the idea of something more coming from them. Second, while there was an establishment presence on the Bush protests, you had a very significant proportion of the establishment supporting the war and so the protests were against the powers that be to at least some extent (which feeds back into the fist point).

I hope I'm wrong but I don't see any anti-Trump protest becoming part of something wider or deeper and I would be amazed if it's not shot through with the establishment. Chock full of Labour and LD politicians, maybe even a few Cons.

You'd think RS, but a lot of the people I drink with and their kids aren't making ends meet. Lots of anger in town now.

Things are febrile. If the weather is good anything is possible.

 

[Wilf]

Wouldn't surprise me if there's a reasonable turnout for mainly liberal protests. Remnants of stwc and whatever the remnants of the swp can muster, along with all manner of people who turn out on remainiac demos, reasonable number of anti-sexual violence protesters given that the potus is a rapist, a few younger anarchos, a thin smattering of black blocs. Will/should attract anti-racism protesters too. Demonstrators will be kettled or just not even try to get anywhere near him. Fair number of arrests for sit down protests, but not many for anything more serious.

Be delighted to be proved wrong, but given what I'm guessing will be the Hilary-ist and remainiac tone of the demonstrators, I'll feel ambiguous about the whole thing.

 

[patman post]

It’s the President of the USA visiting. The fact it’s Trump who’s currently the laughing stock of the whole world should make no difference — well if we wish to continue with the “special relationship”, that is. Must have been to see Macron being the focus of that accolade by Donald. But surely the UK must be bigger than that...?

 

[xenon]

It’s the President of the USA visiting. The fact it’s Trump who’s currently the laughing stock of the whole world should make no difference — well if we wish to continue with the “special relationship”, that is. Must have been to see Macron being the focus of that accolade by Donald. But surely the UK must be bigger than that...?

Not how it works. Respect the office. Pfft

 

[Wilf]

It’s the President of the USA visiting. The fact it’s Trump who’s currently the laughing stock of the whole world should make no difference — well if we wish to continue with the “special relationship”, that is. Must have been to see Macron being the focus of that accolade by Donald. But surely the UK must be bigger than that...?

A rapey, anti-worker, anti-welfare, racist comes to town. Oh, hang on, I'll get the bunting.

 

[patman post]

A rapey, anti-worker, anti-welfare, racist comes to town. Oh, hang on, I'll get the bunting.

Maybe with bunting he’ll let slip how he got the US economy soaring and how he’s got China to kick some sense into North Korea...

 

[Wilf]

Maybe with bunting he’ll let slip how he got the US economy soaring and how he’s got China to kick some sense into North Korea...

Almost all of the areas of economic success are a continuation of previous trends. Others see no progress at all or are going the other way:
Trump and the US economy in six charts
Now, about the rapey, anti-worker, anti-welfare, racism...?

 

[redsquirrel]

You'd think RS, but a lot of the people I drink with and their kids aren't making ends meet. Lots of anger in town now.

Things are febrile. If the weather is good anything is possible.

But it's not really is it. Security will be monstrous, the official demo will be chock full of crap and the very fact that this will be pulling in all sorts mean that it's highly, highly unlikely that anything will be kicking off.

That's not to say people shouldn't go but lets be clear-eyed about what these protests will be and what they won't be.

 

[LDC]

That hasn't worked for them the last 476,451,306,127 times they've done it tbf.

It does though, it's all grist to their political mill.

They swamp the place with placards, sell papers, chat people up, and generally give the impression to people 'new' to politics that they're the people to join and get involved with. (Although given the recent years I'm not sure they have this any more, at least not as much as previously.)

 

[LDC]

You won't be able to move for (Fortress) Europe flags at this demo. Lovely.

Not suggesting people don't go, but don't be thinking this could be some poll tax moment.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I've just looked on the SWP website, as well as promoting a whole load of events that happened last week, they have croker this on their 'about us' page.

We’re proud of our long record of supporting the workers’ movement in Britain, from its high point in the early 1970s, through the tremendous battles fought against Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s, right up to today’s strikes against austerity and David Cameron’s coalition.

Piss-ups in breweries come to mind.

 

[chilango]

This book argues that groups like the SWP fail to gain members, and often lose members, when doing this kind of thing.

I wouldn't worry too much about that side of things.

 

[LDC]

This book argues that groups like the SWP fail to gain members, and often lose members, when doing this kind of thing.

I wouldn't worry too much about that side of things.

Yeah, in some ways I think it's been less about getting signed up members, and more about them gaining people who associate them with radical left politics. Anyway, I think generally you're right, their ship has sailed in that regard, ironically probably with the space taken by Labour/Momentum.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

It's not for him though - he doesn't care, whatever happens.

I’m not so sure, the orange nonce has cancelled two state visits now, reportedly because he’s not too enamoured with the thought of a frosty reception:

Trump cancelled his UK visit because he wouldn't get 'the love he believes he deserves', says Michael Wolff

 

[chilango]

Yeah, in some ways I think it's been less about getting signed up members, and more about them gaining people who associate them with radical left politics. Anyway, I think generally you're right, their ship has sailed in that regard, ironically probably with the space taken by Labour/Momentum.

Couple of snippets.