A campaign group has launched a petition calling on Nottingham City Council to declare Nottingham a ‘Trump-free zone’.
More than 300 people have signed the petition organised by Nottingham people’s Assembly, which requires 5,000 signatures before it can be discussed by Nottingham City Council.
It follows Commons speaker John Bercow’s comments suggesting US President Donald Trump should be forbidden from speaking in Parliament when he makes a state visit.
Petition organiser Tom Unterrainer, of the People’s Assembly, said: “Donald Trump is a racist, misogynist who mocked a disabled journalist on the campaign trail.
“He has wasted no time turning his racist rhetoric into a reality and we shouldn’t take part in normalising his ideas.
“Nottingham is a welcoming city – but we won’t welcome a racist, misogynist war monger”.
On Monday (February 6), Mr Bercow told MPs that “opposition to racism and sexism” were “hugely important considerations”, and he would be “strongly opposed” to President Trump addressing the Houses of Parliament during his state visit to the UK.
While some MPs praised the comments, many critics said he should remain politically neutral.
Brilliant statement from John Bercow on our opposition to racism and why he wouldn’t issue an invitation to Trump to speak in Parliament. 👏🏼
— Jasmin Beckett (@Jasmin_Beckett) February 6, 2017
Speaker Bercow just cancelled Trump visit to parliament. A proud moment for Commons. Racism and sexism not welcome here.
— Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) February 6, 2017
— Parveen Agnihotri (@Parveen_Comms) February 7, 2017
John Bercow says he acted honourably re his recent Trump comments. No he didn’t. He acted tribally, unprofessionally and hypocritically.
— Oliver Norgrove (@OliverNorgrove) February 7, 2017
A petition requesting the withdrawal of President Trump’s invitation to the UK – and another one backing the visit – will be debated in Parliament on Monday, February 20.
On the same day the assembly is planning a protest march in Nottingham calling for the visit to be scrapped.
The march will begin at 5.30pm at the Forest Recreation Ground before moving to Old Market Square.
On January 31, around 1,500 people protested in the city against Trump’s immigration policy.
Mr Trump denied mocking reporter Serge Kovaleski, who has a congenital joint condition, during a campaign address, when he appeared to mimic his movements.
Instead he said he said he was demonstrating a person grovelling.
He also denies his controversial immigration policies are based on racism, insisting they are about national security.
