Stop Trump protesters ‘bring the noise’ in London
Video Report by ITV News Social Affairs Editor Penny Marshall
Before his UK visit began, President Donald Trump claimed that British people 'like him a lot'.
Today, thousands of protesters have taken to London streets to denounce the controversial US leader's visit for stoking “division along fault lines of fear and hatred”.
One man said he had not marched in 40 years, but felt so strongly against Mr Trump's arrival that he "wouldn't sleep tonight" if he did not come out to protest.
Pots and pans were bashed and a loud chorus of “say it loud, say it proud – Donald Trump’s not welcome here” erupted from the crowd against a backdrop of drumming and cheering.
The colourful march began after a choir sang, the suffragette march was played on a loudspeaker and people joined in with the songs We Are Family and Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke of the message he wanted to convey to President Trump in a speech from the protests at Trafalgar Square.
"Our message to our visitor is - we are united in our hope for a world of justice not division," he said.
"We are united in our hope to end racism and misogyny. We are united in hope for all our diversity."
It was a carnival atmosphere among the crowd which included babies being pushed in prams and men and women of different ages and races.
The marchers banged out a wall of noise as they headed from London’s West End to Parliament Square in a loud carnival atmosphere of drumming and cheering.
Planners of the Women’s March London had pledged to “bring the noise” in protest and urged those taking part to bring pots and pans, drums and musical instruments.
Actress Laura Carmichael, who played Lady Edith Crawley in Downton Abbey, held a banner which read “End Violence Against Women”.
Organisers had said: “Some continue to stoke division along fault lines of fear and hatred – in pursuit of agendas driven by desire for profit, greed, power & domination.
"They are going about their daily business wreaking havoc – fuelling conflict; displacing vast numbers from their homes; waging war on our rights; destroying our planet.
"It is more important than ever that we resist.”
Lucy Guy, 41, brought a handmade poster which read “Not even your wife likes you”.
The Nottingham-born TV comedy writer who lives in Hackney, east London, said: “There are so many reasons to dislike Trump and one of them is that he is a massive misogynist.
“We all know that he cannot stop watching the TV so I hope he might see this and it annoys him.”
The homemade banner proudly held by Emily Darnell, 40, an executive assistant from Haywards Heath near Brighton, read “Super Callous Fragile Racist Sexist Nazi Potus”.
She said: “Trump is just a vile, vile man so I felt really motivated to come here.
“Where do you even start with Trump? He makes me sigh.
"I think it is really important that so many people are here so that he knows how Britain feels and how women feel about him. He is such a loser.”
Labour MP David Lammy took to the stage, speaking of the motivation behind the mass Donald Trump protests being held around the country.
"We don't march because we hate the United States of America, we march because we love the United States of America," he said in Trafalgar Square.
"We march because we are all equal, and we want to see the end of a president who says we should put up walls, who says that Mexicans are rapists, who wants to roll back civil rights - no, we are equal."
Protesters said they were united against Trump and many had put their creative caps on in a range of colourful banners.
James O’Brien, from County Mayo, was selling Donald Trump toilet paper at Oxford Circus which was attracting amused passers-by.
“We thought it’d be fun,” he said.
Getting the attention of potential buyers, he said: “The most satisfaction you can have in a toilet, kids.”
A percentage of the money raised from the toilet rolls is going towards mental health awareness.
Messages on placards included “This is our carnival of resistance”, “No Fan of Fake Tan Man”, “How Dare You Combover here” plus “Trump Stinks” along an image of a turd emoji topped off with a golden wig.
A woman in whiteface and a clown’s outfit had a banner which declared “Clowns Against Trump” on one side and a plea to end child detention on the other.
Inge Kjemtrup, chair of Democrats Abroad, said she felt it was “extremely exciting” to be an American in London and seeing so many people come out in protest of the US President.
She said: “These people are objecting to Trump and his policies. His policies are anti-immigration, anti-health and harmful. They are protesting all the horrible things he is doing to divide people on all kinds of grounds such as religious.
“We want to let overseas Americans know they should vote in the mid-terms to do something about it.”
Women’s rights activist Sadia Abdi of ActionAid Somaliland said: “Women have suffered enough. Violence against women is such a shameful act of cowardice. Trump and other leaders – if you condone it, commit it or remain silent, you will be held accountable.”
Actress Samantha Bond, who has played Miss Moneypenny in James Bond films, earlier tweeted her support for the march saying: “Donald Trump has devastated funding for women’s health in the poorest countries, refuses asylum to women fleeing domestic violence + is undermining human rights worldwide.”
Actor and writer Stephen Fry, another supporter of the march who condemned Mr Trump, had tweeted “Friday 13th – and a horrible visitation brings alarm, disgust and hilarity to my homeland. Wish I was there for the merry march against the Trumpalo. Join the@AmnestyUK #humanrightsnightmare bloc to protest his presence.”
Former Lib Dem deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg said he would also be among the crowds of demonstrators, writing: “Right, I’m going on the anti-Trump demo. I had no intention to but his crazed attacks on the EU, Nato, and WTO have changed things.
“Plus his best UK pals are Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Piers Morgan. He dislikes everything I believe in and believes in everyone I dislike!
“Donald Trump has every right to visit. We have every right to say he’s wrong.”
Late on Friday evening, a Greenpeace protester flew over Mr Trump's golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, with a flag reading: 'Trump: Well Below Par'.