President Trump. Pic: Voice of America
MPs are set to debate a proposed state visit from 45th President of United States of America Donald Trump after an online petition calling for the visit to be called off exceeded 1 million signatures.
The petition, started on the Parliament petition’s website, comes after President Trump signed an executive order on January 27 blocking nationals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entry to the United States.
Citing protection from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals, Trump claimed this was not a ban on Muslims, but was about terror and keeping the United States safe.
The petition says that due to “well documented misogyny and vulgarity” the serving US President: “should not be invited to make an official State Visit”, which would involve meeting the Queen.
Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, tweeted that the ban and the UK’s official response was “utterly disgraceful” and urged people to sign a petition. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also took to Twitter to express indignation at the ban.
There should be no state visit for President Trump until he lifts his immigration ban. https://t.co/lY2fDwjDYR pic.twitter.com/xg9tnEj3Mn
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 30, 2017
The ban has caused fury around the globe, with enormous crowds protesting across the United States. On Sunday, hundreds of thousands gathered at JFK’s Terminal 4 to voice their resentment to what has been called Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’.
Tonight in London similar numbers are expected to attend a demonstration outside Downing Street. The demo, scheduled for 6pm, will include speeches from the Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Lily Allen, Ed Miliband, Wail Qasim (Black Lives Matter) and Talha Ahmad (Muslim Council of Britain).
Our ELL+ reporters will be attending the demonstration to bring reaction to the ban from South and East London residents. Follow the latest on the story on our webpage www.eastlondonlines.co.uk
