Solidarity from Europe in the resistance against Trump

Yesterday, activists across Europe showed solidarity with the American resistance, protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States by unfurling banners and other signage on highly-visible bridges and other locations. The organizing group, BridgesNotWallsUK, had this message to the world on its webpage:

[media-credit name=”Bridges Not Walls” align=”aligncenter” width=”650″][/media-credit]

They further noted that in these displays of resistance,

…we will push back against the forces of hatred and division. We will extend a hand of solidarity to brothers and sisters in the USA, the UK and around the world.

We will build bridges between our communities and unite as citizens.

We will show we are here, and here for each other, and we’re not going anywhere — not one of us.

We will call loud and clearly for #bridgesnotwalls.

Collected under the hashtags #BridgesNotWalls and #BuildBridgesNotWalls, protesters and journalists published photos of the powerful actions on Twitter.

London, England:

Just some of the #London #bridgesnotwalls banners this morning – actions are coming in from around the world! #Inauguration #j20 pic.twitter.com/VI9O1LvcoG

— Bridges Not Walls (@Bridgesnotwallz) January 20, 2017

An honour to stand in solidarity on waterloo bridge, built by women #bridgesnotwalls pic.twitter.com/LrdDFFDcC4

— Ellis Brooks (@ellispoint0) January 20, 2017

https://twitter.com/matthew1butcher/status/822364005897359362

Activists on London's Tower Bridge have a message for Donald Trump ahead of #Inauguration : Build bridges not walls #bridgesnotwalls pic.twitter.com/Hr5oqdRP4I

— Karla Adam (@karlaadam) January 20, 2017

As part of @Bridgesnotwallz. Westminster Bridge, London #bridgesnotwalls pic.twitter.com/Q4yDIHdrvc

— James Koch (@dont4getthesun) January 20, 2017

Edinburgh, Scotland:

Some early morning Trump protests in Edinburgh. Banners hung from North Bridge; "love trumps hate", "women rise up", "there is no planet b" pic.twitter.com/DcwoUfi2v6

— Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) January 20, 2017

Dublin, Ireland:

Today @TheUSI called to #BuildBridgesNotWalls in Dublin as the #TrumpInauguration gets under way in the US pic.twitter.com/CKMsvJqkti

— Síona (@AnTaobhRua) January 20, 2017

Paris, France:

…and this just happened! #bridgesnotwalls #PARIS pic.twitter.com/Om0590b8yW

— Bridges Not Walls (@Bridgesnotwallz) January 20, 2017

Madrid, Spain:

Madrid, Mallorca, París, Berlín, Londres, Sidney, Roma y hasta 120 ciudades se suman a #BridgesNotWalls pic.twitter.com/h4cGSG4eHQ

— Ladelgato (@Ladelgato) January 20, 2017

Berlin, Germany:

Walls divide, Mr President. Our message from Berlin ❤️💛💚 #bridgesnotwalls #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/MLnz0JKXjv

— Greenpeace e.V. (@greenpeace_de) January 20, 2017

In the photo from Berlin, the protesters are standing in front of the last standing portion of the Berlin Wall — a moving message that the world has experienced the destructive power of walls before and overcome it.

The world has also experienced the destructive forces of ascendant authoritarianism and white supremacist nationalism before, and overcome them, too.

We stand with our brothers and sisters around the globe in resistance and thank them for their solidarity.

Something BIG is happening: around the world, people are building #bridgesnotwalls – what happens next is up to us… #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/cHV4FwmoVb

— Bridges Not Walls (@Bridgesnotwallz) January 20, 2017