Manchester's Trump Not Welcome Protest

On Wednesday, 17 September, around 100 people gathered outside Central Library in St. Peter’s Square to protest the American President’s visit to the UK.

The demonstration took place amid ongoing controversy over Trump’s past ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Trump was reportedly acquainted with Epstein and is said to have written him a birthday note, a claim denied by the White House.

Both protesters and counter-protesters were in St. Peter’s Square. One bystander commented about the Trump fans, “They claim they protect women and children, but are supporting a sexual abuser.”

While not criminally convicted, Trump has been found civilly liable for sexual abuse in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll and has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from more 20 women.

However, the focus of Trump was lost a little as right-wing vloggers interrupted the protest to make the event about broader left vs right issues. One instance of hate being monetised - which we have discussed on The Rose - was when a homeless man had an American flag and went into the protesters zone and got a reaction. A live streamer chased after them and I received an elbow in the stomach and an accusation of getting in the way on purpose.

Coming away from the protest, I felt that little had been achieved to address Trump’s deportations with ICE and his placement of tariffs on islands of penguins.

Instead, the protest devolved into a classic shouting match of right vs left.

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