CROWDS have gathered in Coventry in emergency protests against Donald Trump’s controversial so-called ‘Muslim Ban’.
Activists stood in solidarity with people from seven Muslim-majority countries who have been denied entry to America by the new President.
Around 300 students at the University of Warwick took to central campus on Monday afternoon (January 30) brandishing signs.
The protest was hosted by seven university societies – Warwick: Friends of Palestine Society, Jewish Israeli Society Warwick, Warwick Anti Sexism Society, Warwick Anti-Racism Society, Arabic Society, Warwick Pride and Warwick Catholic Society.
Students chanted ‘We are loud, we will resist’ while others brandished signs reading ‘Love Trumps Hate’ and ‘If you are neutral in times of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.’
Sahar, a second year biomedical sciences student told the student newspaper, The Tab: “Today meant a lot because as Muslims, we are being targeted left right and centre in almost every single country in the world, in the West and the East.
“I think as students its important for us to speak out and raise out voices.
“We’re young people, we’re the next generation. We’re at the forefront, we cannot stay silence.”
Protesters also gathered under the Lady Godiva statue in Broadgate on Monday night chanting ‘He will not divide us’ and ‘Say it loud, say it clear – refugees are welcome here.’
Protesters gathered in Broadgate to show their frustration with President Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’. CREDIT: Shaun Reynolds Photography
Local teachers, Hannah and Ben, from Coundon said: “If we do not stand up against racism then we are letting it happen.
“Coventry is a proud city of peace and our voices should be heard.
“We are both teachers and it is great to see such diversity in our schools.”
Arshad Hussain and Ismael Vania from Radford also joined in the protests – calling Donald Trump’s policy as racist and urging more to get involved in future protests.
Arshad Hussain and Ismael Vania. CREDIT: Shaun Reynolds Photography
Protesters also gathered in neighbouring Birmingham in the central Victoria Square.
Demonstrations have been staged across the globe against one of Donald Trump’s first executive orders as President of the USA.
In the order he barred nationals from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya from entering America.
He also halted the US refugee programme for 120 days and indefinitely banned all Syrian refugees.
There had been fears the ban would affect British citizens born overseas or who hold dual-nationality passports from the seven banned countries – including Olympic hero Sir Mo Farrah, who was born in Somalia, and Iraqi-born Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi.
But Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs earlier this week that he had been assured Britons would not be affected by the ban.
