Hundreds of protesters assembled outside the US Embassy to object to Donald Trump winning the US election on Wednesday night.
A national organisation called Stand up to Racism arranged the demonstration following Trump’s successful bid for the White House on Wednesday, November 9.
They claimed the event would send a powerful message that London stands against his dehumanising politics.
“He stirred up fear and racism in the context of a stagnant economy and the resulting fall in living standards – to mobilise a vote for him,” said Sabby Dhalu, co-convener of the group.
“The danger now is racists across the globe feel emboldened by Donald Trump’s victory and racism and sexism become normalised through the most powerful figure in the world.”
The Republican candidate ran on a platform promising to build a border wall between America and Mexico, deport illegal immigrants, and limit the number of Muslims entering the county.
However, in his victory speech he promised to be a President for all Americans and said his campaign was a movement of all races, religions, backgrounds, and beliefs.
Those at the protest feared the experienced businessman’s acceptance speech will not reflect how he will govern.
William Prum, 19, an American Environmental Science student studying on his year abroad at UCL said: “Trump has shown himself to be a pretty despicable character with not a lot of care for minorities or people who look like him.
“I think his speech was a classic politician move, to gloss over the reality of their views to temporarily pretend they’re a really impressive character.”
The protest was only organised on Wednesday morning after it was confirmed that Trump would be the next US President.
Yet, despite the short notice, more than 250 people were at the event.
Miriam Scharm, 62, a retired school teacher, protested outside the embassy because she wanted to prove that not everyone in the world is racist.
“Racists in America and in places like France, where Marie Le Pen was so happy with this vote, are all boosted by this, so I think we have to show that anti-racists are going to stand up and say that we are against any kind of discrimination,” she said.
“He has boasted all the worst elements of mankind. I believe in the best elements of people but I’m afraid that through his election campaign he was incredibly racist.”
Trump’s campaign was dominated by controversial comments.
At one rally, he accused illegal Mexicans in the country of being rapists who bring crime and drugs to the US.
Trump became president-elect after he received more than half of the 538 electoral college votes in the US election. He will be sworn in as America’s 45th President in January 2017.
