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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
David Young

Around 2,000 protesters turn out for march against US President Donald Trump in Dublin city centre

Around 2,000 people have filled Dublin city centre in a noisy and colourful protest march against the visit of Donald Trump to Ireland.

The Trump baby blimp flew overhead as demonstrators left Ireland’s Garden of Remembrance for Dublin city centre.

Climate change, left-wing, pro-Palestine, anti-racism and anti-war activists mounted a rally after Mr Trump returned to Ireland following D-Day commemorations in France.

Andrew Grossen, 23, from Minnesota, a student at a Dublin university, said: “I am an American citizen joining my Irish friends protesting the president.

“I believe he is morally, constitutionally and temperamentally unfit for the office of the presidency.

“His abuse of powers in the role constitutes impeachment and removal from office, and this is a good show of support for taking that action.”

Anti Trump demonstrators walk along O'Connell Street in Dublin. (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

Protesters marched past Dublin’s historic General Post Office, scene of the Easter Rising in 1916, on the main artery of O’Connell Street and raised their voices to urge the US President to go home.

An environmental campaigner who is a member of Extinction Rebellion dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

Joseph Campbell, from Belfast but living in the Republic for almost 50 years, said: “There are protests all over the country and there seems to be lots of people out there who want Mr Trump to go home and not have a good time.

“I am sure he will have a great time.

“He lives in a big castle and is closed away in his ivory tower but anyway we get a chance in our democracy to tell people what we think about them, especially politicians that we don’t like.”

A local Irish police officer estimated around 2,000 people took part in the protests.

Earlier, Peace activists bemoaned the relatively small turnout at an airport protest against Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland.

Donald Trump Blimp at the Garden of Remembrance. (Gareth Chaney Collins)

Around 100 people gathered at Shannon Airport on Wednesday as the President landed at a facility regularly used by the US military, with around 10 campaigners staying on site for an overnight vigil.

One of the organisers, Edward Horgan, from the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, said people had become “complacent”.

“The camp will remain here until he leaves,” he said.

“It’s about having a presence. We know there aren’t large numbers but I would argue there should be huge numbers here, in fact, because it is a unique occasion and people should be protesting against the environmental damage and the military damage.

“There’s a huge complacency which, for the younger generation in particular, and the environmental issues, I find amazing, in the fact that the numbers protesting against this visit are so relatively small.

“There should be thousands here, but there aren’t.

Doonbeg publican Caroline Kennedy speaks about Trump brothers visiting the town
The Donald Trump Blimp at the Garden of Remebrance. (Gareth Chaney Collins)

“There will always be some of us who feel as a matter of conscience that we must protest.”

Campaigners claim the use of airport by the US military violates Ireland’s neutrality.

The arrangement between the US and Irish governments was struck after the September 11 terror attacks in 2001, with US aircraft using the airport as a landing and refuelling stop to and from operations in the Middle East.

Protesters at the camp were also critical of Mr Trump’s record on environmental issues.

“We are making a point not only to Donald Trump but also to our own prime minister, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar,” said Mr Horgan.

Joseph Campbell from Belfast stands in front of the Trump baby blimp which is flown at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin. (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

“First of all he shouldn’t have invited the US president here, and he specifically shouldn’t have agreed to meet him at Shannon Airport, where the Irish neutrality is being seriously violated.

“And the environmental issues are now almost as important as the war issues.”

As the president flew in on Wednesday, a small group of his supporters also turned out at Shannon to counteract the peace camp.

Holding Trump electoral campaign and Israel flags, around 20 supporters sang hymns and shouted their support.

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