Protest Against US Vice President Visit Tomorrow

The “Party Against Pence” will be held in front of Parliament tomorrow afternoon on the occasion of a visit from the US Vice President. His impending visit tomorrow has already been preceded by numerous US military aircraft touching down at Keflavík International Airport.

“Mike Pence, vice-president of the United States, is on his way to Iceland,” the event statement reads in part. “His agenda and that of the White House is an affront to those living in Iceland. A number of organisations have banded together to provide a venue for people to express their views on the Trump administration’s stance on peace and disarmament issues, feminist issues, queer issues, environmental issues and its treatment of refugees.”

Mike Pence’s stance on these issues, both in detail and in general, have long been a matter of public record.

A great many of Pence’s positions on these issues—in particular where women and queer people are concerned—are directly contrary to those of the Icelandic government, and its voters. As such, a protest against his visit is unsurprising.

The protests will feature representation from the Campaign Against Militarism, the National Queer Organisation, Trans Iceland, the Feminist Society of the University of Iceland, and others. The event begins at 17:30 at Austurvöllur, the square in front of Parliament. Music and speeches will continue into the evening.