*Shannon, Ireland, June. 5, 2019: Young women with a banner protesting against the Donald Trump visit at Shannon Airport, Ireland
PROTESTS are planned in Shannon and Doonbeg this weekend ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Clare, with campaigners declaring: “Trump is not welcome in Clare.”
Shannonwatch has announced plans to join other groups and individuals at Shannon Airport on Saturday, September 12, with a protest due to begin at 1pm.
The group has also said it fully supports protests planned in Doonbeg, where Trump is expected to spend part of the weekend while attending the Amgen Irish Open at his golf resort.
Speaking to The Clare Echo ahead of the visit, a Shannonwatch spokesperson said the organisation and its members had protested the presence of every US president to visit Ireland since the beginning of the century, including Trump during his first term. “Trump is not welcome in Clare,” the group said.
Shannonwatch said it regarded the actions of Trump and his administration as “particularly reprehensible”, pointing to US support for Israel during the war in Gaza and the wider conflict in the Middle East.
The group accused the US administration of “the ongoing funding of and participation in apartheid Israel’s ethnic cleansing occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people”. It also criticised US and Israeli military action involving Iran, as well as US policy towards Venezuela, Greenland and Cuba.
Shannonwatch said Trump had “continued to arm Israel throughout its deadly attacks on Gaza”, which it said had resulted in more than 73,000 deaths.
The group also accused the Trump administration of providing “political cover” for Israel’s occupation and attacks on southern Lebanon.
Shannonwatch said the current Trump presidency had been “characterised by the undermining of international laws and global jurisprudence, and colossal damage to the global environment”.
The group also made a series of personal allegations against the US President, describing him as “a racist, misogynist and transphobic” amoungst other more serious criminal allegations.
Shannonwatch said: “The vast majority of people in Ireland are fundamentally opposed to crimes against humanity and the environment. They stand with Palestine, and all oppressed peoples.”
“We encourage them to make this clear by participating in peaceful protests against Trump over the coming weekend,” the group added.
A poster promoting the planned demonstrations calls on people to take part in “The Great Irish Unwelcome” in Shannon and Doonbeg on Saturday and Sunday.
The organisers have described the events as open to all, with the poster stating: “All welcome, except Trump.”
Trump is expected to arrive in Ireland on Saturday before travelling west to his Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, which is hosting the Amgen Irish Open from September 10 to 13.
Protests are expected at Shannon Airport and in Doonbeg during the President’s visit.
The visit will take place amid a major security operation, with Gardaí drafting in personnel from outside Clare and cancelling leave as part of arrangements for the President’s one-night stay in Doonbeg.
