Protests growing across Scotland

July ended with a weekend of demonstrations across Scotland. Trump’s visit, the ongoing attacks on the people of Gaza, and the rise of the far right were all opposed. These are not great times. 

Aberdeen’s rally against Trump was opened by Maggie Chapman MSP. She said no to the genocide in Gaza, no to the politics of hate. ‘We are here to stand in solidarity, not just against Trump, but everything he and his politics stands for'. The crowd responded by making it clear that President Trump is not welcome in Scotland. 

Maggie was followed by Mike Arnott of Dundee Trades Union Council. Mike made it clear that Dundee like Aberdeen benefits from having a campaigning MSP like Maggie. It was clear from those attending that hundreds had come from across the North East and Tayside and elsewhere to make their voices heard. Mike opened by saying, ‘Yesterday Scotland began five days of playing host to the one individual on the earth who could do more than anyone else to stop the genocide in Palestine. And what has he done? Nothing’, he added. 

This powerful speech set the tone for the event organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council and the Stop Trump Coalition. The range of speakers, music, poetry and arts added to the occasion and illustrated the diversity of those opposed to Trump and the politics he represents. The event attracted huge media attention. Although there was little evidence of the BBC. International journalists at the demonstration asked if politicians from Britain and Europe should be asking Trump for economic favours, the campaigners’ response was that a different, more sustainable economy is needed.

The day’s events were put into historical context by Aberdeen's Izhar Khan. Izhar reminded the crowd that at one time mainstream politicians branded Nelson Mandela a terrorist. Years later they queued to shake his hand. It raised the question of how long it would take some of our politicians who have rushed to roll out the red carpet for Trump to realise that they are on the wrong side of history.

Scotland's trade union movement, those campaigning for peace and a different sort of society need to build more demonstrations like the ones that took place in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and elsewhere. Our politicians need to stand alongside campaigners, we need to be push them away from concern for profit and towards prioritising people and planet. What a contrasting picture it was to see the current Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, following in Trump’s wake, hoping for a few crumbs whilst the people in Scotland came together to say loud and clear that Trump’s politics and vision of the world are not welcome here. Labour politicians should be better than this. And the SNP should learn from Labour’s mistakes as John Swinney's government were rightly criticised for funding Trump's planned golf tournament. 

We need to build a movement that embraces our diversity and cultivates a unity that can help to change the political climate. Trump is not welcome here. Our support for the people of Palestine must be amplified. 

Ensuring aid gets to the people of Gaza now is essential. Britain recognising the Palestinian state is something that the Westminster government need to be forced to do. Rather than rushing to meet Trump on a taxpayer-funded private visit, they should instead be representing the interests of people and planet by standing up to Trump and all the vested interests connected to him and his politics of hate.

Published 28 July 2025