MORE THAN 500 gathered in Glasgow for a protest against Donald Trump’s presidency - and took part in an alternative inauguration speech fighting intolerance.
The demonstration in Buchanan Street at the Donald Dewar statue ran alongside similar protests in Edinburgh, Dundee and Berwick.
The protestors included Scots comedian Janey Godley armed with a banner saying: "Corrupt Unqualified Narcissistic Trump".
Photo credit: Colin Mearns
At one point the huge gathering standing in front of the steps of the Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall took part in an alternative anti-Trump inauguration speech.
In a call-and-response session, they chanted: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully oppose the racism, sexism and Islamophobia of the president of the United States and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the rights of the people threatened by this president."
The Glasgow gathering...and the alternative inauguration speech chant
The Glasgow protest follows 50 UK politicians, religious leaders and trade unionists signing a statement urging people to ‘Stand up to Trump’, describing his election as “deeply disturbing and a stark warning to us all”.
It reads: "We the undersigned therefore urgently call for anti-racists, trade unionists, community and campaign activists, and above all everybody of goodwill, to join the growing opposition to Trump and what he stands for."
Godley was first to turn her ire against the new president telling the crowd in Glasgow to cheers: "Just a heads up, if you are going to slag someone on the internet for being fat and ugly, make sure you don't look like a bloated mantee."
Photo credit: Colin Mearns
Angela McCormick of the Stand Up To Racism Scotland who helped organise the demonstration said: "We are pleased with the turnout, it is what we expected.
"It is important to stand in solidarity with America who are threatened by the Donald Trump presidency, that's Muslims, black people and women.
"But it is also important that we across Scotland show that we stand strongly against the kind of politics that Trump represents.
"It is no solution for ordinary working class people and creates a climate of fear. It's such a backward steps for the 21st century that a man who made the comments that he has made about women has such power; a man who can talk about building walls, to keep out the people who keep the economy running."
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