Star date: 14th July 2018

DONALD TRUMP... 'THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS LEADER SINCE THE 1930s' 

Thousands of people packed Albert Square in Manchester last night to voice anger over US President Donald Trump's visit to the UK. Groups from every section of society that Trump has dissed were represented on stage – from Mexican dancers to an ex-US soldier, to trade unions, peace, climate change, refugee, LGBT and women's rights campaigners, plus spokespeople for youth and children. 

To kick off the evening, Manchester councillor, Pat Karney, called Trump "The most dangerous leader since the 1930s...we have to stop the ideas of Trump going across the world..."

Full details here...

"We can be better than this..." Maisie

Manchester unwelcomed Donald Trump to the UK in the only way it can – with music, dancing, a choir, zillions of placards and banners, and so many speakers from all sections of the community telling the thousands who packed Albert Square that the US President's policies are the antithesis of everything the city stands for.

After a DJ set by Dave Haslam, Manchester councillor Pat Karney didn't hold back...

"Donald Trump is the most dangerous leader since the 1930s...we have to stop the ideas of Trump going across the world" he said, before being followed by a child named Maisie, speaking on behalf of the children of the city...

"Donald Trump is not a nice person, he is really mean to parents and children and all the people in the world...We can be better than this. No children should be put into a cage. We are not animals", she said, referring to the Trump regime separating families and jailing them.

Maisie was followed by the Open Choir, with a special version of Hit The Road Trump... 'and don't you come back no more, no more'...which was one of the most polite sentiments of the night...

Ron, a former US navy recruit who now campaigns for Stop The War Coalition, said there should be a place in the Guiness Book of Records for Trump as the 'world's biggest asshole'...

"Many of Donald Trump's supporters celebrate slavery, white supremacy and racism, and we see it all returning" he said "He hates women, he hates workers, he hates unions, he hates the National Health Service...it's free and he hates anything that he can't make money out of...

"Why does he do it?" he asked "He's a millionaire used to bullying people, used to using people, lying, used to people telling him everything he does is ok...now he's found himself President of the USA, this far from the nuclear button...He's a very, very dangerous man. We are up against forces that are rampaging across Europe and throughout the USA; we see the dark clouds in Poland, Hungary, France and a number of other countries and we see them trying to march through London. All of us have to unite as never before, all the progressive forces..."

Indeed the link between the policies of Trump and the far right were highlighted by many speakers, including Lawrence Chapple-Gill of Unite the union...

"As trade unionists we stand for equality justice and respect, and stand against bigotry, sexism and misogyny, and racism" he said "That's why thousands of our members are protesting to tell this Tory Government and US President that his politics of intolerance and division have no place in Britain and are totally rejected by workers and trade unionists.

"Trump won because he played on people's fears and insecurities, people who were fed up with austerity, who have rejected the global nature of capitalism and are looking for alternatives" he added "Yet, in return for their votes the billionaire braggart trampled over workers' and human rights and crushed international treaties...

"Today we protest in solidarity with our sister unions in the United States who find themselves fighting to hold onto so much of what they have secured for working people" he explained "Trump has used his platform to promote far right and racist organisations, such as Britain First, and has used terror attacks in the UK to justify his travel ban against Muslim countries...We want hope restored to politics and our communities. That's not done by spreading hate and division, it's not done by a Government that holds hands with a racist war monger..."

Mexican dancers lit up the stage and speakers from a huge array of sections of society affected by the Trump philosophy spoke at the rally, including those from organisations representing refugees, women's rights campaigners, the LGBT community, peace and climate change groups, youth and religious organisations...but all spoke with the same sentiments, summed up by Simon from Manchester People's Assembly...

"The Tories are the party of division" he said "They are sly, conniving, lying, cheating and don't care about anyone but themselves, and this makes Trump their perfect ally...the worst Prime Minister ever holding hands with the worst US President ever. But Manchester says no to the Tories and no Trump...Manchester says 'One city, one people, one love...'"

See also previous Salford Star article on the Trump Go Home bus that toured Salford and Manchester – click here