Just four days ago some 110,000 protesters crowded the streets of central London.
Starmer denounced them as “plastic patriots”.
Today, thousands of protesters have gathered in the same streets, though they are of a very different ilk.
The Stop Trump Coalition, which does what it says on the tin, organised the protest opposing Trump’s second state visit to the UK. Beyond today’s London-based protest, the coalition protests the global rise of fascism.
As activists arrive in their droves, it is clear that some are in direct opposition to everything Saturday’s marchers stood for. Once again, the political power is in the hands of the British public.
While Saturday’s protesters donned Union Jacks and St George’s flags, today offers a different scene.
Patriotism has been replaced by anti-fascism.
There is a protester dressed in a costume from The Handmaid’s Tale, while another wears a top that reads: ‘Nazi Trump’. Their signs read: ‘Trump not welcome’.
Garnering the most attention is a group of men wearing impressively realistic papier-mâché heads of Andrew Tate, Elon Musk, Trump, Putin, Farage, JD Vance & Netanyahu. They display signs including ‘murderers for Trump’ and ‘war criminals for Trump’ among others.
As the protesters move towards Whitehall, there is an increased police presence. They are not guarding the march, but surrounding the many statues lining the streets, Churchill and Mandela’s included.
Awaiting the anti-Trump protesters at the end of the street are the counter protesters.
At the centre of it all, dozens of nappy-wearing Trumps float in the drizzly sky, Palestine flags raised high around them. Rhythmic drumming punctuates the crowd’s chanting, the buzz of helicopter blades providing a bass line.
Watching and listening, I feel proud to be British.
This sea of anti-fascist activists are exercising their right to protest, celebrating everything Britain has to offer in its glorious diversity. They are unified in a way the far right will never be.
Trump may be the central theme, but the wider movement extends its meaning beyond one political figure. It is truly powerful.
If today’s protests have proven anything, it is that we are stronger as a collective, not as individuals.
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