Hundreds of people have attended a protest in Nottingham against Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
Monday evening’s peaceful demonstration by the Brian Clough statue mirrored hundreds of other events around the globe opposing Mr Trump’s decision to immediately halt the US refugee programme and all immigration from several countries.
On Friday, the President of the United States issued an order to ban people entering the US from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
All are nations where Muslims are in a majority, leading some politicians to accuse the president of adopting a deliberately anti-Muslim strategy, which he denies.
The policy was brought in by the signing of an executive order, which suspends the US refugee programme for 120 days while vetting procedures are reviewed.
The policy also applies to people of dual nationality, and left hundreds of people stranded at airports when it was brought in.
And, after addressing a press conference on Saturday, British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was accused of refusing to speak about the matter.
Monday evening’s event was organised via Facebook to “stand in solidarity with those targeted by Donald Trump’s hateful government”.
One of the organisers of the protest, Niamh Sherwell Cooper, said: “Donald Trump has imposed a ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
“That includes people who helped the US army. That includes people on holiday trying to get home via the United States. That includes people trying to be reunited with their dying parents.
“It also includes Britons with dual nationality, like our national hero, Mo Farah. Even the Iraq-born Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi will be affected.
“The people of Britain do not want to be associated with policies that discriminate based on religion, and Prime Minister Theresa May should take note of that.”
The demonstration was held at Old Market Square from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
In a Facebook post uploaded on Sunday, President Trump insisted the policy was about national security.
“This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” he said.
“There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order. We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days.
“I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering.”
