LONDON, United Kingdom — Thousands of Londoners gathered outside Downing Street on Monday evening, the residence of Prime Minister Theresa May, to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s migrant pause.
The demonstrators brought Whitehall to a standstill, while Westminster tube station was packed as hordes of protesters gathered to join the crowd.
Several public figures were expected to address the crowds, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, singer Lily Allen and Bianca Jagger.
However, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott addressed the demonstrators, saying she had come on behalf of Mr Corbyn.
“Donald Trump has been president for only a few days, and look at what he is doing,” she said.
“We need to resist the Islamophobia and scapegoating of Muslims, we have got to resist it whether it is in the United States or here in the UK.”
Similar protests occurred in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
The demonstrations came as Prime Minister Theresa May doubled down on her decision to invite Mr Trump on a state visit to the UK.
She told a press conference in Dublin Monday afternoon: “The United States is a close ally of the United Kingdom. We work together across many areas of mutual interest and we have that special relationship between us,” she said.
“I have issued that invitation for a state visit for President Trump to the United Kingdom and that invitation stands.”