Greenwich votes to ban Trump, citing ‘bigoted attitude towards women and ethnic minorities’

The London borough of Greenwich passed a symbolic motion Thursday banning U.S. President Trump from visiting the historic neighborhood, citing his “bigoted attitude towards women and ethnic minorities.”

This “is a peaceful and welcoming place that celebrates difference and diversity, but in the case of President Trump we are willing to make an exception,” Denise Hyland, Greenwich’s top local government official, said after the motion was passed, USA Today reported.

The outlet noted that the motion has no ultimate legal weight, but serves more as a declaration of wishes. It comes after the White House postponed Mr. Trump’s official state visit to the U.K., extended by British Prime Minister Theresa May, until next year. More than two million people signed a petition demanding the invitation be rescinded.

Mr. Trump has never indicated that he planned to visit Greenwich — home to the Prime Meridian and historic Cutty Sark clipper ship, USA Today reported.

Greenwich councillors said they were motivated to ban Mr. Trump from the neighborhood after he retweeted anti-Islam posts last month by Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of the far-right organization Britain First. They also cited his criticism of London mayor Sadiq Khan following the London Bridge terror attack in June.

“Council further notes with sadness the President’s bigoted attitude towards women and ethnic minorities which has resulted in examples of division and hatred within the US,” Thursday’s motion stated, The Independent reported. “As such, Council calls upon the Government to abandon plans to invite Donald Trump on a state visit to the UK.”

Councillor Chris Kirby, who proposed the motion, said Greenwich residents should not be “poisoned” by Mr. Trump’s rhetoric.

“President Trump has regularly expressed abhorrent and aggressive views and in doing so has enabled the spread of division and hatred,” he said, The Independent reported. “We have stood up and made our position clear: there is no place for aggressive, bigoted and hateful rhetoric in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.”