The campaign, "Bridges not Walls" began following the election of Trump which the organizers say was driven by "hate and fear, lies and division" marking the "most significant moment yet" in the rise of a new far-right politics in Western democracies.
"We are dropping banners with positive messages across all these bridges in London today and all across the world. We are doing this to show our support for groups under attack her in the UK and across Europe to reject what we feel is the rise of the far-right," Nona Hurkmans, spokesperson for Bridges not Walls told Sputnik, January 20.
"This isn't just about Donald Trump, but his inauguration has definitely given us the occasion to protest and he has used very ugly language that we find unacceptable, like threatening to build a wall on the south border of the US, having a Muslim registry or having a Muslim ban. Those are things we find very divisive and hateful and we think affect people's rights and everyday lives," she told Sputnik.
The campaigners say Trump's rise on the back of the "politics of fear and hatred" has spread to Europe where they say many politicians, public figures, and media platforms in the UK and Europe have failed to stand and oppose it. "Trump has demonized migrants, Mexicans and Muslims," the website states.
Trump told his supporters Thursday night (January 19) he would unify the US and make the country great "for all of our people," many of whom saw him as the antidote to the establishment and giving them a voice in Washington.
In DC for Trump inaugural with two fans and next generation conservative leaders Henry 8 (Birthday Boy) and Jonah 9! pic.twitter.com/XFs0WVQwEa
— David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) January 19, 2017
Bit of a traffic jam as @BikersForTrump head back through crowded Georgetown #inaug2017 pic.twitter.com/W5B3nUaZAE
— Josh Fatzick (@JoshFatzick) January 19, 2017
"Even in the run-up to the Brexit vote, very ugly language was being used. I'm thinking about Nigel Farage putting up that billboard with a picture of a queue of immigrants with the words 'Breaking Point' on them. That's very hateful language, very divisive and also it has had an effect," Hurkmans told Sputnik.
"We've seen recorded hate crimes go up and now also Theresa May saying that she wants to prioritize cutting down on immigration in her Brexit negotiations. We really feel that things are headed south," Hurkmans added.
The initiative began as the brainchild of Hastings, England, ice cream man and homeless shelter worker Will Stevens, in the aftermath of the US election result. It has rapidly gained momentum and is now being backed by a growing number of existing activisy and community groups, as well as larger campaign organizations who share anxiety about recent political events both in Europe and in the US.
The gates haven't opened yet and thousands keep pouring in. So much patriotism and pride #InaugurationDay #Inauguration #TrumpInauguration pic.twitter.com/4HEPjS3iRY
— The GOP Report (@TheGOPReport) January 20, 2017
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Trump supporters flocked to Washington D.C. to watch the inauguration.
