Northern Ireland

Hundreds of people gathered in Belfast to protest US president Donald Trump's UK visit

A number of activists held placards and banners with anti-Trump’s messages
A number of activists held placards and banners with anti-Trump’s messages A number of activists held placards and banners with anti-Trump’s messages

HUNDREDS of protesters gathered in Belfast on Friday to show their anger at US President Donald Trump's first official visit to the UK.

Activists held placards and banners with anti-Trump’s messages including "Belfast says no to Trump".

One Trump supporter who briefly heckled the crowd at the start of the event was drowned out by chanting of "Hey ho, what's the crack, Donald Trump don't come back".

The main speaker at the event, Jennie Carlston, of US action group Exact, said the rally had been organised by a coalition of groups.

"We are protesting against Trump the man today. But we are also here to protest what Trump stands for, the racism, the intolerance, the rhetoric, the cruelty, discrimination and the arrogance of the US government that he embodies in the worst way," she said.

"As an American, I know that most people here know what it is like to have a government that doesn't speak for you, that refuses to do what is right, and sometimes even refuses to turn up and represent you. More Americans didn't vote for this president than did, and we should never forget that," she added.

Ivanka Antova, of United Against Racism, also addressed the crowd, speaking about Trump administration's separation of child migrants from their parents.

"The separation of children from their parents, the locking of people in cages like they are animals. Leaving them with nothing but a bowl of water and a small toilet behind a wall at the back of the cell is something that should be deplored, that should never be allowed to happen," she said.

People Before Profit’s Gerry Carroll said that a strong message was sent out from Belfast.

"We're here to send a clear message to Donald Trump that he isn't welcome in Belfast, he isn't welcome in Ireland and we’re also standing in solidarity with everyone in England who are protesting against this guy," Mr Carroll said.

"We’re here to say no to Donald Trump and also to build a campaign against Trumpism in the north and in Ireland. We're about solidarity, we're about openness, we're about inclusiveness and Trump represents the complete opposite of this."