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THE HERALD FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3 2017


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Aber against Trump’s MORE than 300 people turned


out at the Bandstand on the seafront in Aberystwyth on Monday night (Jan 30) to protest against Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’. There were numerous angry, inventive and colourful placards on display. Aberystwyth’s activist choir, Côr Gobaith, sang songs of freedom and justice until everyone was hoarse. Ceredigion’s demonstration of solidarity with Muslims was one of more than 40 similar events in cities and towns across the UK. Networked via a Twitter feed (#muslimban), the protests brought tens of thousands of people out onto the streets. In Wales, there were protests in Cardiff, Bangor and Swansea, as well as Aberystwyth. The protests build on the momentum of a petition demanding that Theresa May withdraw an invitation to US President Trump to make a state visit to the UK. At the time of going to press,


the online petition had gathered 1,784,950 signatures and counting. This means that parliament is obliged to have a debate on the issue. In the 24 hour run up to the Aberystwyth protest, Ceredigion residents alone contributed 2,277 signatures to the petition. Prime Minister Theresa May has already ruled out cancelling her invitation to ‘The Donald’, however. Stephen Kalisky, who initiated the


protest in Aberystwyth via Facebook, told The Herald: “This is a broad protest organised by many groups. Stand Up To Racism is one of them. We are shocked to the core that Trump has introduced policies that seem like something you read in history books about the 1930s. This is, however as


Kelvin Mason kelvin.mason@herald.email


it is spun, a ban on Muslims. More shocking is our own Prime Minister’s complicity. “Torture? Banning Muslims?


We will not stand for this. I was told that around 300 people showed their support last night. Thank you all for coming out and showing the world how great Ceredigion is.” On the Facebook event page,


Ceredigion MP Mark Williams wrote: “I’m sorry I can’t be with you tonight but I am back in Westminster already, preparing for a very busy few days. The scale of the signatures on the parliamentary petition speaks volumes. “I am proud that once again our


county is standing up and speaking out in favour of tolerance, friendship and equality.”


THE ‘MUSLIM BAN’ UNPICKED


The so-called ‘Muslim Ban’ is


actually a series of measures which includes suspending the US refugee admissions system for 120 days and the Syrian refugee programme indefinitely. President Trump’s executive order also bans people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days, and this includes those with dual nationality. The order prioritised refugee claims on the basis of religious persecution, provided the applicant belongs to a minority religion in their country. This provision will allow the US to prioritise the admission of Christians over Muslim refugees from the Middle East. Finally, the order halves the


By the sea: A sea of placards (Pic. Marian Delyth)


number of refugees to be accepted from any country in 2017 to 50,000. Taken together, the stated aim of President Trump’s executive order is ‘new vetting measures, to keep radical Islamic terrorists out’. If that were the case, by its own twisted logic, the order should perhaps include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Lebanon. These are countries whose nationals have committed terrorist offences in the US, notably the attacks of 9/11. The Washington Post, among others, suggests that President Trump excluded from his executive order countries where he has business interests. Other commentators


suggest the order is not really directed at terrorism but rather at Muslim immigration to the US generally, citing Germany as the sort of multicultural society that Trump’s administration wants to avoid the US becoming. Chaos ensued at major airports across the US as the order came into effect.


Eluned Morgan, Labour AM for


Mid and West Wales, told The Herald: “President Trump’s shameful and cruel executive order against refugees and Muslims has shocked and appalled people around the globe. Whilst every country has the right to set its own immigration policies, Trump’s actions


Lindsay Gaunt: Addressing the gathered crowd (Pic. Marian Delyth)


Côr Gobaith: Singing songs of freedom and justice (Pic. Marian Delyth)


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