Updated at 1pm Friday
DONALD TRUMP’S INAUGURATION takes place today, with the swearing-in ceremony happening at 5pm Irish time. It will be followed by the 45th US President’s much-anticipated inaugural address, which his advisors have said will aim to heal the politicals divisions formed during the long, bitter White House campaign.
Protests are being planned across the world to mark Trump’s ascension to the most powerful office in the world. Organisers of the inaugural events in Washington are planning for around 25,000 to 30,000 protesters – on a par with the number that turned out to protest Nixon’s presidency at the start of his second term.
One event alone, planned for tomorrow, is expected to draw up to 200,000 people – organisers have insisted, however, that the Women’s March on Washington is not strictly an anti-Trump demonstration, but a nonpartisan event aimed at expanding family leave and maintaining access to abortion and birth control.
Similar women’s marches have been organised in other cities, including London and Sydney, while here at home protests have been organised for Dublin and Galway on Saturday.
“The march is an open forum for all groups who have been marginalised or discriminated against,” organisers said.
We support all of you and want to walk together for recognition and change.
Today
A banner was already unveiled today in Dublin in protest at Trump’s presidency.
Campaigners organised together by the European Network Against Racism Ireland (ENAR Ireland) gathered on Ha’penny Bridge to unveil it.
The banner read:
Bridges not Walls. Love Trumps Hate.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie at the protest, Aga Wiesyk, network officer with ENAR Ireland, said that the Irish government should challenge Trump’s presidency.
“I think that Ireland has quite a good record in human rights and protecting human rights,” she said.
“I think this should be continued and the government should not support any of this hateful anti-immigration rhetoric.
And they should say it to trump that they won’t be participating in that kind of hate mongering.
Another Dublin protest, supported by left-wing groups including the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit party, also takes place outside the Central Bank Plaza at 5pm this evening to coincide with the swearing-in.
Organisers have said that representatives from feminist, pro-choice and anti-racism organisations will address the crowd.
In Cork, People Before Profit have arranged a protest to take place between 5.30 and 6.30pm this evening at Daunt Square.
And back in Dublin, Friends of the Earth have arranged what they’re calling an “alternative approach to the inauguration of President Trump” by choosing to celebrate “all the positive initiatives happening in the world”.
The group is arranging a screening of the French documentary Demain at Filmbase, Temple Bar, at 6pm – and they’re reminding anyone interested that the venue has a BYOB policy.
According to Friends of the Earth:
Demain is a hugely positive, affirming and inspirational film, exploring creative solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects, community-owned renewable projects, local currencies, creative schools, ambitious recycling projects.
Viewing party
Elsewhere, an official viewing reception of the inauguration will be hosted inside the US Embassy in Dublin 4 from mid-afternoon. Invitations to cover the event were sent out to media organisations during the week.
Current US ambassador Kevin O’Malley won’t be in attendance however. The Obama-appointee will officially step down from his role as the Democrat’s tenure comes to an end.
There was an almost two-year vacancy in the role of US Ambassador here prior to O’Malley’s appointment in 2014 – but, speaking to TheJournal.ie this week, he said he was hopeful there wouldn’t be such a gap this time around.
“There’s no way to predict that. I suspect there wouldn’t be, I don’t know,” O’Malley said.
There’s a relatively detailed vetting process and the Senate confirmation process can take a while, but I’m optimistic [there won’t be as long a wait].
Additional reporting Orla Ryan and Cormac Fitzgerald.
Any more Trump protests (or parties) we missed? Send details to daragh@thejournal.ie and I’ll update the piece.
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