Statement on Trump's invitation to D-Day.

Press Release 2nd May 2019.

Simon Magorian on behalf of TAT.
The commemoration of D-Day is an important event for the remembrance of those who gave their lives in the struggle against fascism. It is also an important day to give respect to those vets in our community who are thankfully still with us and to show our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy today.

It is therefore signally inappropriate to have a figure like Donald Trump invited to such an event when one considers his track record on racism and fascism.

He was condemned by the Anti-defamation League during his election campaign for using anti-semitic tropes, and during the same campaign became (as far as I know) the only Presidential candidate to be formally endorsed by the KuKluxKlan.

When Nazis marched through Charlottesville chanting "Jews will not replace us", Trump thought it appropriate to say that there were "very fine people" on both sides. He evidently sees there is moral equivalence between fascists and antifascists.
It is worth remembering that Heather Heyer an antifascist was mowed down in a car and killed by a Nazi during that troubled weekend.

 Leading figures of the Alt-right like Steve Bannon and Richard Spencer have been influential figures. Trump also has more than a passing familiarity with antisemitism.

There were signs of antisemitism from Trump during the election campaign. There was the constant use of dog whistle antisemitism and sometimes it became really pretty crude.

Donald Trump tweeting a picture of Hillary Clinton surrounded by dollar bills and alongside a Star of David was a new low but worse was to come.
His final video advert titled Donald Trump's Argument for America warned about the Washington establishment's ties with "special global interests."

The problem was all the bogey figures were Jewish and from the financial sector.

As Haaretz reported:

There is a legitimate suspicion that trump's motives are less about showing respect for the enormous sacrifice of American servicemen(over 400,000 lost their lives in the conflict), but more about self-aggrandisement.

Trump has had a habit of using the military as theatrical props and as photo opportunities.

President Trump has a difficult relationship with his own military back home. He famously declined to visit Arlington military Cemetery on Veterans Day because he was "too busy".

His disparaging comments about War hero John McCain are well known. 

“He’s not a war hero. He’s not a war hero because he was captured. I don’t like people who were captured.”

He has retweeted far-right "Britain First" posts, something that Theresa May condemned him for.
It's worth remembering that Paul Golding head of Britain First is most famous for turning up at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday with women's underwear on his head for a publicity stunt with a load of his mates from the National Front.

D-Day is a commemoration of the heroic fight against Fascism and Trump has no place in it.

I think the Vets had been put in an invidious position. I think many would feel they had not been consulted but clearly would feel obliged to support the official event and keep their own counsel and make the best of it. I also do not want to drag them into the argument.

There would be no protests, were it not President Trump being invited by Theresa May.

An additional problem is that the security demands put in place by Trump's team are going to change the event beyond all recognition.

The event is going to take place behind 10-foot steel walls.

We do not think Trump is an appropriate person to be at this event.
 

He's no President Eisenhower.

We will be protesting his visit.

We are also pointedly aware that without the sacrifice of the Americans, Russians, British, Canadian, Commonwealth and so many other troops we would not be able to enjoy our rights to protest. 

We will also be remembering those who gave their lives in the fight against fascism and honouring those who are gladly still with us who fought for freedom.
Simon Magorian. SUTR.