An estimated 10,000 people took to the streets of Brussels today to ‘welcome’ Donald Trump on his first visit to the city – and Europe – after the US election.
Mr. Trump, who had called the city a ‘hellhole’ while campaigning in 2016, was greeted by a huge coalition of individuals and groups denouncing his dangerous climate policies, devastating rollbacks of social and environmental protections, misogyny, Islamophobia, racism and more.
“In the United States the Resistance is strong to Trump and the xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia and sexism he embodies,” said Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth U.S. “By coming together in Brussels we have shown that civil society is united in fighting this extreme agenda across the globe.”
Huge turnout at #TrumpNotWelcome, and it’s only just beginning. Welcome to the “hellhole”… pic.twitter.com/RHamiXS3sz
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) May 24, 2017
Les Amis de la Terre/Friends of the Earth Wallonia, Climaxi/Friends of the Earth Flanders and Friends of the Earth Europe joined the #TrumpNotWelcome platform, with the anti-Trump #Resist slogan translated into 26 languages.
Solidarity with those suffering under and threatened by #Trump in the USA. #resist! #TrumpNotWelcome pic.twitter.com/s4Zgj1Ue7T
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) May 24, 2017
The protest stretched for kilometres across Brussels.
#TrumpNotWelcome march stretching for kilometres through Brussels. No to racism, climate-change-denial, misogyny, Islamophobia, you name it! pic.twitter.com/6w7mjMPpXJ
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) May 24, 2017
With some particularly creative banners and signs.
only today Brussels will be a hellhole #TrumpNotWelcome pic.twitter.com/7v8mSx10sm
— Manon Uyttendaele (@Manon_UY) May 24, 2017
The demonstration made headlines around the world, making Mr. Trump’s official statement on arriving in Belgium’s capital all the more bizarre.
*Someone* wasn’t following the thousands of people on the streets of Brussels saying #TrumpNotWelcome… https://t.co/g1j2wq0dm0
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) May 24, 2017
As he returns to the USA, we will continue to stand in solidarity with our friends at Friends of the Earth US, and all those who are marginalised and stigmatised by Mr. Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
Europe says #resist, as #Trump comes to Brussels on May 24th. Join the demonstration – 5pm @ Gare du Nord >> https://t.co/0ogv2MGeiX pic.twitter.com/TiEut2ahaa
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) May 18, 2017
