Northern Ireland

Human rights campaigners in Belfast to protest against Donald Trump's UK visit

Donald and Melania Trump step off Air Force One on their arrival at London's Stansted Airport yesterday 
Donald and Melania Trump step off Air Force One on their arrival at London's Stansted Airport yesterday  Donald and Melania Trump step off Air Force One on their arrival at London's Stansted Airport yesterday 

HUMAN rights campaigners are expected to take to the streets of Belfast to protest against US President Donald Trump's first official visit to the UK.

Amnesty International will be among the groups gathering today at 1pm in front of Belfast City Hall, as Trump is due to engage in bilateral talks on range of foreign policy issues, at the prime minister's country retreat at Chequers.

A range of other civic society groups, trade unions and political parties will also be among the protestors.

Amnesty activists will hold placards displaying Trump’s face and the messages "A nightmare on any street" and "No Ban, No Wall".

Over Trump’s 18-month-long presidency, Amnesty has been strongly critical of his administration over various issues.

In recent months, it has spoken out against Trump's government's separation of child migrants from their parents, the withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council and the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland programme director, said: “When the world thinks Trump, it’s an American nightmare not the American dream which comes to mind.

“In just 18 months, Mr Trump has been responsible for a horrifying roll-back of rights - from locking up child migrants to imposing the infamous travel ban.

“As he visits the UK, it is important to stand up and be counted in defence of human rights worldwide.”

In total, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets in cities across the UK in protest against Trump's visit.