Today is a national day of action to celebrate the contributions of migrants to the UK.
Protests are expected in Parliament Square from 6pm to coincide with a debate in Parliament over the prospect of a Donald Trump state visit to the UK later this year. 20 February will also see the One Day Without Us protest, a national day of action in solidarity with migrants from around the world who are living, working and studying in the UK.
Art galleries including the National Gallery, Tate and Tate Modern are backing the day of action. The day is also being supported by national organisations, including the 3 Million organisation, New Europeans and UNISON. A number of businesses will close for the day to help make the argument that the UK would struggle to manage without the contribution of migrants, even for a day.
At one o’clock, people supporting One Day Without Us are being asked to gather in public spaces and simultaneously link arms in a gesture of solidarity and appreciation of migrants. Westminster will also be the focus for some of the actions of the day.
A ‘flag mob’ is planned, with people being invited on social media to descend on parliament square carrying the flag of the country of their birth, to illustrate how many nationalities are represented in Britain.
One Day Without Us: UK National Protest are calling for a nationwide day of action to stand up and say no to the future of hatred, racism and division that Donald Trump is trying to create – and to say no to the complicity of the British government in supporting him, as parliament debates the Trump state visit today.
Museums and art galleries are taking action to protest against Brexit and at Trump’s anti immigrant stance. The Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Massachusetts USA has removed or covered all works by immigrants in the museum to make a clear visual statement on the impact of immigrants on their collection.