Americans in London have been warned to “keep a low profile” by the US Embassy, which has issued an alert ahead of President Trump’s visit to the UK.
A statement on the US embassy website warns that “numerous demonstrations” have been planned during Trump’s visit and advises people to “be aware of your surroundings” and to “exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent”.
Trump is due to touch down in the UK tomorrow and will spend his only night in London at the US ambassador’s official residence, Winfield House, in Regent’s Park.
Despite staying in London for a shorter time than originally anticipated, a number of protests are set to go ahead.
An all-night noise protest – Keep Trump Awake in London – is due to take place outside Winfield House from 8pm on Thursday 12 July with the intention of causing a sleepless night for Trump. Opponents of Trump are encouraged to bring pots, drums and vuvuzelas.
Taking place on Friday 13 July and expected to attract over 50,000 people, the Together Against Trump procession will begin outside the BBC building in Portland Place at 2pm, before marching through central London and convening in Trafalgar Square.
Joining this march will be a splinter protest called Trumpets Against Trump which aims to “provide a wake-up call against the normalisation of fascism”. Instructions on the event page state: “We will play a drone piece on our lowest notes. We will not play in harmony with each other.”
Participants are encouraged to “find, borrow or steal one”, with lack of musical skill not considered an impediment: “No practice is needed. The worse the better.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has also authorised the launch of a giant “baby” Trump inflatable, which is due to take to the skies during the President’s visit.
With Piccadilly line tube strikes confirmed to begin late this evening and continue until the early hours of Saturday 14 July and road closures and large crowds anticipated for Wimbledon and Hyde Park concerts, increased pressure on travel services is highly likely.
