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Anti-Trump Demonstration Today

(297 Posts)
Rinouchka Sat 21-Jan-17 19:15:03

Today, I participated in the Women's March to The American Embassy in London in protest against Trump's attitude to women and to his proposed plans.
There were thousands of woman( and some men, babies in slings and pushchairs, marching children, even dogs on leads), all using the only method left to us to express our solidarity. It was cold, the sun shone, drums beat and people chatted, shared case histories, laughed, sand, cheered to each helicopter flying overhead and marched until they could move no more.
The police were wonderful and it was peaceful all round, full of goodwill.
There were hundreds of pink pussycat hats, original handmade placards and slogans, even a huge vagina in cardboard. My favourite was a placard( in background of one of the photos attached) stating thus:
A woman needs Trump
Like a fish needs climate change.

My DH, who was with me, thinks that the march, especially one in a foreign country, is a feel good moment for the participants but otherwise useless. Trump is now president and such marches, DH thinks, will do nothing to change the course of his government.

I disagree.

What do Gransnetters think?

NfkDumpling Sun 22-Jan-17 08:07:59

I too agree with Absent and Granny23.

More people overall may have voted for Mrs Clinton but the fact is that under the voting system in the USA, Mr Trump won. Personally I don't like the man at all but he's there are isn't likely to back down or go away without a fight. Demonstrations won't change the result - but they may just make the horrible self-opinionated whatsit realise that there is a strong, a very strong voice against him and moderate his actions. Possibly. Hopefully.

The biggest regret I have is that he intends to abolish Obamacare. Oh, he really is the most odious man!

daphnedill Sun 22-Jan-17 08:09:54

PS. I should make it clear I'm not talking about apple pie and sex at the same time. (Memories of the film 'American Pie' for those of who had forgotten.)

NfkDumpling Sun 22-Jan-17 08:12:35

I'm not very good at links so I hope it works.

uk.news.yahoo.com/video/bremner-trumps-distraction-technique-045505463.html

daphnedill Sun 22-Jan-17 08:16:09

The link worked, Nfk, and I think Bremner's right.

MawBroon Sun 22-Jan-17 08:44:11

Excellent link, thank you! Bremner is so observant (it's what makes him a brilliant mimic) but it is also horrifying to see how easily people can be manipulated by the tricks some public speakers employ.
As a bonus the News clip which followed about numbers at the inauguration was surreal, I was wondering if it was in fact kosher or 'Dead Ringers'! Sadly I think I know.

nanaK54 Sun 22-Jan-17 09:17:05

Thank goodness that we, as women, have the right to express our views whether by marching or on a forum such as this.
This right brought about by women of history.
I say well done Rinouchka wish that I could have been there with you.

MawBroon Sun 22-Jan-17 09:20:38

With typically British understatement

Rinouchka Sun 22-Jan-17 09:27:18

The White House Press Secretary claims re the crowds is very worrying. How can they claim that the crowds were bigger than at Obama's inauguration? How can they claim that there were very few on the marches yesterday when the eyewitnesses and photos, videos, show otherwise? Because the media is lying. And those who voted for him believe it.

My DD2 is covering the events in Washington DC for a French TV News channel and she has confirmed that the crowds were thinner on Friday than claimed by Trump and that they were too big yesterday to be able to march past the White House.

We have posted at length about alt-truth before but this is alt-truth from the mouth of power, no longer from potential power. It brings to mind the Soviet control of the press and the North Korean control of the mind( there being no free press in N.Korea).

Have just heard that Trump is threatening to cut grants to the arts. Another threat in order to control free speech because of the actors , musicians and artists who have spoken out against his proposed policies.

Iam64 Sun 22-Jan-17 09:28:35

Thanks for posting that image MawBroon it's my favourite from all the banners on line this morning.
Thanks also to Absent, Granny 23, Elegran (and you Cari) and the majority of contributors on this thread who have managed to express negative views on the behaviour and attitudes of the new president without resorting the the abusive, rude and dismissive language used by saak.
One of my many worries about the election of Mr T is that his rude, arrogant, dismissive and aggressive approach to anyone who doesn't see life as he does will increase in wider society.

whitewave Sun 22-Jan-17 09:30:25

iam I echo you entirely. The heading on the Observer echoes that as well.

Rinouchka Sun 22-Jan-17 09:36:50

AgreeIam64 and whitewave. Hope the thread remains abuse-free.

Trump's rudeness and aggressiveness were of concern in a presidential candidate but now continues as such. Except that now he has power. Today's dictats are of immense concern for all who hold free speech and free press , free media dear.

grannypiper Sun 22-Jan-17 09:46:01

Just to get this straight in my head, if you dare to agree with a word trump utters you dont have a decent bone in your body, you are rude, ignorant and arrogant, is that right ?

grannypiper Sun 22-Jan-17 09:49:04

And to against trump means that your views are acceptable and anyone else's views are wrong ?

grannypiper Sun 22-Jan-17 09:54:29

well said dyffryn being polite is everything but telling people your view is the right one and telling someone else their view is wrong isnt exactly polite. We can debate and say "i think". People shouldnt complain about their view being classed as shite then say the same back but in a different way

Anniebach Sun 22-Jan-17 09:57:20

No grannypiper , it just means many women cannot understand how some women can support a sexual abuser, bully and liar, but it is their right to do so .

To say women have a choice in an exchange of posts on sexual abuse will cause anger for many, many women though.

Dyffryn Sun 22-Jan-17 09:59:18

Thank you grannypiper.

AsarahG Sun 22-Jan-17 10:07:11

So important to protest against what is obviously so wrong. Trump may close his ears, but surely his advisers (and their female relations) are not so thick skinned. Listening to the likes of Madonna and others who quite happily record music with rappers who's language puts women down (calling them 'my bitch etc') does not help the cause at all. Only 3 years 363 days left.

GracesGranMK2 Sun 22-Jan-17 10:07:30

I wonder if some of us see this man (I hope that is not seen as abusive, rude and dismissive language) as far more than just a threat to feminism. My description of him was a deliberate play on someone with whom I see a comparison. That view has not changed with his and the Whitehouse attack on the press - also shades of the past. I do wonder if May will return with some sort of agreement with him - a gift to the cartoonists with memories of a little bit of paper ... and yes I do fear what he stands for that much.

Ankers Sun 22-Jan-17 10:10:51

I am hesitating about posting this, but here goes.

a. just about none of us live in america. I think most of us would agree that if we did, our perspective would be slightly different at least. Bound to be really.

b. 53% of white american women voted for Trump. It leads me to guess or assume that they think a bit differently to us.

c. It is their country, not ours. So

d. it is their vote that matters

e. and their vote that counted.

f. and ultimately their choice.

I think it is a bit easy for us, sitting 5-7 thousand miles away to think they have got it wrong. But we are entitled to our opinion and can voice it.

But ultimately, I feel a bit uncomfortable effectively telling them and being annoyed with them for their personal choice.

Who are we to tell them how they should have voted?

MawBroon Sun 22-Jan-17 10:15:44

Add comment | Report | Private message grannypiper Sun 22-Jan-17 09:46:01
Just to get this straight in my head, if you dare to agree with a word trump utters you dont have a decent bone in your body, you are rude, ignorant and arrogant, is that right
* granny piper* I really don't think anybody has said this. Disagreeing with another's views is one thing, but to use words like "shite" and "dick" casts serious doubts on a person's integrity.
There's no getting away from the seriousness of the situation in the US today, indeed in the Western world so feelings are understandably running high. But last night's rudeness and obscenities did nobody any credit.
I can't believe that as mature people we could think it acceptable to throw insults at another member as happened. Can you?

Elegran Sun 22-Jan-17 10:16:52

Oh, but people CAN complain if their view, expressed in a calm unaggressive manner, is then called shite and they are told not to be a dick, and they can do it without resorting to swearing and abuse.

Others (people in many different countries, of many different political shades and different degrees of age, affluence, and education) can march in a peaceful demonstration to register their opinion of the proven methods that the new leader of a very powerful nation has used to get his own way in the past, and is proposing to use in the future.

sunseeker Sun 22-Jan-17 10:18:39

I have no problem with people marching to express their disapproval of anything or anyone. However does no one else see the hypocrisy of people like Madonna who have made a living out of performing semi nude (even offering free blow jobs to anyone voting for Clinton). Doesn't this kind of behaviour merely encourage some men to look upon woman as mere sex objects. Please don't tell me her taking off her clothes at every opportunity is "empowering". If we want men to treat us with respect shouldn't we be showing ourselves respect first?

AsarahG Sun 22-Jan-17 10:19:13

I do feel there were a lot of poorer people in the mid west and places like Detroit (we have seen the pictures of the abandoned houses and buildings) who no one listened to. They could not afford to fly to Washington for the inauguration, so I think some protesters are being a little disingenuous. I do not like the man, but was the other choice any better. Who knows.

MawBroon Sun 22-Jan-17 10:22:47

Ankers Trump as POTUS is the acknowledged leader of the free world. How can we think what happens in the US does not affect us? The US plays a pivotal role in world security. Through his office he has become, a figure of great influence His moral stance should be one decent people can respect - does it?
This is not a domestic matter, it impacts us all. So we cannot sit back and think what is happening at the moment is of no concern to us.

whitewave Sun 22-Jan-17 10:22:49

Exactly the same applied to Obama supports - think of all the poor blacks.

Not disingenuous but truthful unlike Trump