British activists: Trump’s anti-immigrant laws divisive, racist

*** John Rees, senior member of Stop the War Coalition
Q. What can you make of Donald Trump’s executive order?
A. Everybody should take this as a warning; it is not just Muslims they hate; Trump hates black people; he hates Mexicans; he hates women; he hates trade unions.
If we do not stop the ban on Muslims he would be banning other people down the line.
Q. Is it possible to get some condemnation from UN?
A. The UN would not move unless there is a mass pressure and that’s why demonstrations around the globe is so important; they are the things that would move politicians at the top.
Q. What would the future hold for US?
A. I think the danger internationally is that he becomes a war president. We have already heard that his senior advisor, Steve Bannon, who is a fascist is already planning in the Middle East and against China. That is completely crazy.
*** Lindsey German, senior member of Stop the War Coalition
Q. What can you make of Donald Trump’s executive order?
A. I am totally opposed to it, I think it is really wrong, racist and divisive; it targets seven countries, the majority Muslims countries. The majority of them have been bombed and occupied by the US, they got a lot of grievances against the US.
Q. What does the future hold for America?
A. America is currently divided. There are huge demonstration against him, the majority of the popular vote was not for him so he has real problem ; he is just piling on with more and more policies that are opposed by millions of people.
People are talking about strikes in America. I think America would see very big changes over the next few months.
Q. What is your opinion about London’s support and silence on US policies?
A. I think that the government in London is playing an extremely bad role; it always had a special relationship with America; it never did us any good; under Trump it is particularly dangerous.
Q. Is it possible to get some condemnation from UN?
A. I hope people try every single channel that they can, to reverse its ban.
*** David Rosenberg from Jewish Socialist Group
There were people who used to say, its ok because when he gets to office he will behave like a statesman. Jewish people who faced fascism in the past knew he was serious.
What he has done is horrible, racist, inhuman; but the effect of it has been solidarity between Muslims, Jews, anti racists and anti-fascist.
Q. What does the Jewish community think of Trump?
A. 70 percent of the Jews in America voted against him; they are traditionally democrat rather than republican and they know that because in the past republicans has been very anti-Semitic. They have been very pro-Israel
The people of occupied territories whether they are Palestinian, Jews, Christians suffer from the rightwing government they’ve got there and America is a friend of that right wing government because it fulfills American interest.
Q. What is your opinion about Netanyahu’s trip to London?
A. It is interesting because Britain helped the UN Scurity Cuncil’s resolution to go through which Netanyahu did not want.
She is now trying to make it up to Netanyahu but Jewish people will be here alongside Palestinian’s demonstration here on Monday.
Thousands of protesters yesterday took to the streets of London to call on the Prime Minister to end her 'collusion' with US President, Donald Trump.
The demonstration was organised by groups, including the Stop the War Coalition, Stand Up to Racism and the Muslim Association of Britain.
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