I had thought a lot of what to write on my placard. This was it:
Truth
Reconciliation
Respect
What do we need in public life? I started with phrases, wanted something pro-choice, and to be readable honed it down to individual words, so pro-choice ended up as “Respect”. I thought of writing the things I object to, but want to be positive. “Oh, that’s very good,” said someone, appreciatively.
I liked the Women’s Equality Party slogan: “From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you Trump for giving feminism a little hand”. Meaning he radicalises opposition. I signed the huge card they were going to send him. There were many references to small hands, and a huge Trumphair-coloured fist, with its middle finger extended. One printed sign read “Trump racist liar cheat misogynist bigot baby-jailor chimp”, lots said “Dump Trump”, or “No to Trump, no to war”.
I did not pose for a picture with my placard. My photos were taken from within the demo, seeing what I saw:
There were several camera crews. Should I speak to one? I could say something pithy and articulate. But they are American stations I have not heard of, and might be hard-Right propaganda like Fox or Sinclair Media Group.
I did not get to Friends House in time for the Meeting for Worship, but had time for a cup of tea with Michael and to write out my placard. Simple mistake: I wrote it only on one side, so had to keep turning it round. I had a stout A2 sized card, no need for a handle. There were photos in the FH garden. Then we went to the start of the march, where we were up against the barrier outside a hotel. Hotel guests with cases and shopping somehow got through the crowds: we were packed in, but we were nice people, trying to make way for them. Then we started, with ELO then David Bowie playing: carnival music for a friendly atmosphere. My favourite sign was Peggy from EastEnders, hands on hips, with the caption “Get out of my Pub”. British. Having a lark, not taking things too seriously, speaking up for truth and justice.
I saw signs condemning the president’s transphobia, and went over to speak to a trans woman carrying one. I do not want to get arrested on protest, and this is not that kind of protest. Tens of thousands of people, with the onlookers mostly supportive. Above, a helicopter circled; I wondered how high-res its cameras were. I read the police had facial-recognition cameras to identify us. I have lots of photos on facebook. Soon, demonstrating will really mean standing up for a cause.
There are speakers in Trafalgar Square, but when we get there I am tired, and Michael invites me to Westminster meeting house, where he offers cake and tea. I bump into Lucy, down with Unite the Union. I stay for the silence. The only cheap train ticket I could get was 12.15am, so I went to Tate Modern. North of the Millennium Bridge I had a bread roll and some fruit, listening to a cello and violin play Pachelbel, Bach, Vivaldi. I stayed until the gallery closed at ten. Here is its deserted corridor.
Nice post Clare, yes I wish we could dump the chump. ❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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I hope you will get the chance, but the 2018 elections are the way to curtail his power to do damage.
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The only problem with getting rid of him is the vic-presedent is worse then him as a LGBT+ hater. ❤️✌️
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Indeed. Trump is malice mitigated by incompetence, Pence might be more dangerous. Worse for LGBT, but also women’s rights, civil rights, the economy, equality and social mobility. More suffering from the same number of abortions, because of legal restrictions on abortion. Etc, etc. I don’t think Pence is so keen on enriching himself, though. Trump is probably more corrupt.
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Ya I don’t date any of that, when I heard Pence had been picked for VP I about had a heartattac because I already know his record with the LGBT+ community, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s behind this crap with the LGBT+ community and he’s just letting Trump take the blame for it all. ❤️✌️
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Trump is the tip of the iceberg, the true evil are the Trump supporters.
https://biggerfatterpolitics.blogspot.com/2018/07/how-democracy-works-in-america.html
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HOW ABOUT ‘FREE SPEACH’ CLARE, CHINA
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I PREFER THE-
(gosh all that shouting’s exhausting)
I prefer the Canadian to the US model, but yes, free speech is a good thing.
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