After the success of the demonstrations, Scots are now being urged to converge on Edinburgh for a mass demo on 11 February
Thousands of people in Scotland took part in protests against Donald Trump’s Muslin ban last night.
The largest crowds gathered in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with protests also taking place in Dundee, Aberdeen and St Andrews.
In Scotland’s capital it was reported that up to 7,000 people gathered at the foot of the Mound at 6pm before marching, along Princes Street and on to the Scottish Parliament.
Chants of “No hate, no fear, Donald Trump’s not welcome here,” accompanied banners and placards proclaiming “Love Trumps Hate” and “Refugees are welcome here” among many others.
The protest in Edinburgh was organised by the Scotland Against Trump campaign group, which confirmed after the gathering it is organising another demonstration in the city to take place on 11 February.
Protesters heard from Scottish Green Party co-convenor Maggie Chapman, NUS Scotland Black Student’s officer, Shuwanna Aaron and Assad Khan of Edinburgh University Islamic Society.
Khan’s rousing speech drew the largest cheers from the crowd, when he blasted: “We have to stand up, we have to organise ourselves. We have to mobilise, we have to unite. We have no choice!”
In Glasgow a protest was organised by Stand Up To Racism Glasgow with hundreds of people gathering around the steps at the top of Buchanan Street at 5pm before marching down to George Square to join others.
Comedian Janey Godley, who was famously photographed greeting Trump’s arrival at his Turnberry golf resort in June with a less than welcoming sign, addressed the crowd there saying she wanted Trump to come to Scotland so protesters could “line the motorways, line the roadways, line the streets and hang off the buildings” before leading chants of "hope not fear, refugees are welcome here".
The “emergency protests” were arranged following Trump signing an executive order halting the entire US refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banning Syrian refugees and suspending visas from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya – all predominately Muslim countries.
Edinburgh organisers Scotland Against Trump have arranged a further protest to take place on Saturday, 11 February which will also attack UK Prime Minster Theresa May's handling of Trump.
It is calling on people across Scotland to assemble at the Scottish Tory Party HQ in Edinburgh and then then march to the city’s US Embassy.
Organisers said: “The wall is being built, and the process for banning Muslims entering the US is underway. This is a time to fight back. We will stand up and be counted.
"Theresa May is setting herself up as the key Trump ally. She says that together with Trump the U.S. and UK will 'lead the world.'
"We are joining the dots between Trump and the Tories. Our message is simple: we say NO to a special relationship with the Trump White House.
"These are not ordinary times. Be on this demonstration and recruit your friends to the resistance."
Meanwhile, a petition calling on an offer of a UK state visit for Donald Trump to be rescinded has received over 1.6 million signatures.
The petition, which only required 100,000 signatures to spark a debate in the Houses of Parliament, says Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.
A counter petition saying he should be allowed to make a state visit has been signed over 88,000 times.
