- Title: Thousands protest against Trump in Brussels
- Date: 24th May 2017
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS CARRYING A TRUMP EFFIGY, HOLDING RAINBOW AND OTHER FLAGS PROTESTERS WITH SIGN "VUB AGAINST TRUMP" CHANTING (English) "(scream) if you want to fight Trump" (AUDIO OF PROTESTERS SCREAMING) VARIOUS OF CROWDS OF PROTESTERS WITH BANNERS HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ANNE TONGLET IN POPE COSTUME (SOUNDBITE) (French) BELGIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ANNE TONGLET, 68 YEARS OLD, SAYING: "Trump is a great example of appalling machism. He wants to destroy the planet, he wants to destroy people. We are not insignificant, we are 99 per cent of the planet against one per cent billionaires, the only ones that Trump represents." FORMER MARINE CAPTAIN WITH SIGN READING (English) "Mister Trump tear dawn that wall" (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER MARINE CAPTAIN RUDI VANAGT, 70 YEARS OLD, SAYING: "Instead of building walls, build bridges. And instead of selling more and more military material, work for peace." PROTESTERS SCREAMING, HOLDING BANNERS READING (English) "Make racists afraid again" and "Grab'em by the balls" PROTESTER CALLING FOR CROWDS TO SCREAM 'IF THEY WANT TO FIGHT TRUMP' PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS READING (English) "No! In the name of humanity we refuse to accept a fascist America" (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. RETIREE LIVING IN BELGIUM, MITCH REDRMER, 63 YEARS OLD, SAYING: "It's just so objectionable, as an American citizen it's an embarrassment as our President. And particularly for Europe, I'm particularly appalled given that I've been a European resident for a number of years because he's got the same nationalist ideas that brought about Brexit and some of the other really potentially negative political aspects that could horribly affect the continent of Europe. I don't think it's the right direction. It's not the right direction for Europe, and it's not even the right direction for the U.S." PROTESTERS GATHERED NEXT TO BIG POSTER READING (English) "Stop Trump Save the Planet" VARIOUS OF CROWDS OF PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 17:59
- Keywords: Brussels opposition demonstration Trump
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I76X53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands took to the streets as U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrived in Brussels on Wednesday (May 24) for several meeting, including a NATO summit choreographed to impress the leader who once called the Western alliance "obsolete".
Protesters in Belgium had been busy preparing actions to show their anger at Trump's policies. U.S. retiree living in Belgium, Mitch Redrmer said Trump was an embarrassment and his policies negative for Europe.
An activist camp has been in place in Brussels since Sunday (May 21) and will stay for a week, providing activists with a place to stay, cook, and organise their protest actions for Wednesday and Thursday (May 25), when the leaders of the 28 allied nations will meet at the new NATO headquarters where an unveiling ceremony is due to take place.
Activists in the 'Peace Camp' said NATO was not a solution to the problems faced by the region and were planning to intervene in a "non-violent" way in Thursday's discussions.
Trump is nearing the end of his nine-day overseas trip, his first foreign tour as president, and on Thursday evening (May 25) will head to a G7 summit in Sicily. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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