J D Vance visit - peaceful protest meet-up Tues 4pm

Sat 16 Aug, 21:18

This thread was locked by Richard Fairhurst.

Sat 16 Aug, 21:07

Anyone else bored with this thread…. or just me 😜

Sat 16 Aug, 17:54 (last edited on Sat 16 Aug, 18:08)

Draw a line under this and move on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The energy and time that you are putting into this stream could have a different focus/purpose. 

What is that for you? 

Sat 16 Aug, 17:35

With all due respect to Clive Dytor, there is a considerable difference between "attacking others because they have a different viewpoint" and taking issue with the contents of a provocative article published in a national magazine - and re-published on our local forum (with or without the author's consent I know not).  I make no apologies for 'telling it as I see it' and regard Valerie's points as equally valid - but as I said, and Richard recognises, it's tipping over into 'debate' so enough already!

Sat 16 Aug, 16:32 (last edited on Sat 16 Aug, 16:59)

I’m all for tolerating different viewpoints, but as someone who volunteers in the community teaching English to  people from other countries, I’m not going to let it go unchallenged when I see that group of people blamed for difficulties with the NHS.

Sat 16 Aug, 13:58 (last edited on Sat 16 Aug, 14:00)

Agreed!

Sat 16 Aug, 13:53

Yes, this is getting a bit Debate board-ish, and since we don’t have a Debate board thanks to the Online Safety Act, please stop.

Sat 16 Aug, 13:50

Can’t everyone just calm down, stop attacking others because they have a different viewpoint, and be civilised. I feel like I am living in a madhouse! As the Duke of Norfolk famously said: But this is England!

Sat 16 Aug, 12:55

Madeleine Grant forgot to mention his political meetings with Nigel Farage, Robert Jenrick, Chris Philp, David Lammy, Thomas Skinner and James Orr.  That's not my idea of a holiday.   

Sat 16 Aug, 12:11

Instead of an untiring skein of right-wing facetiousness Ms Grant could have referenced some of the other things about this community, such as:

The active compassion given by the Charlbury Refugee Action Group;

The Christmas boxes many of us send to Eastern Europe;

The support given to Ukraine, from displaying its flag to giving homes to their people;

The many citizens who leave their garden produce for neighbours to take;

And the many citizens who give books to be sold for charity;

All Together in Charlbury, which offers transport and other support for those of us who can't do as much as we used to;

The people who give up their time to coaching sports and organising activities for youngsters;

and so much more.  

My old linguistics professor once challenged me to think of a word as powerfully good as the word vicious is bad.   It's puzzled me for decades.   At the moment I'm trying to write about ways to make goodness seem as appealing as the other end of the spectrum - it can be done, think of JFK's inaugural or his American University speech, think of Ed Murrow taking on McCarthy, think of Bernstein conducting Beethoven's Ninth in Berlin just after the wall fell ... 

... but Ms Grant has just dumped a bunch of evidence into the other pan of the scales.   

Sat 16 Aug, 12:04 (last edited on Sat 16 Aug, 12:25)

Sorry Claire, save for the 'racist tropes' point, for once I can't agree with you.  I find it a typical Daily Mail / Torygraph/Spectator type of supposedly observational piece, dressed up to be mildly amusing (hardly witty), full of assertion but devoid of evidence or insight and designed only to pander to those with similarly ignorant prejudices...  And since she plays the 'vicar's wife' card, where is the Christian understanding or compassion for those in need?

Observations about Vance's visit to the area are one thing - but we no longer have the debate section.  I sincerely hope Richard & co will take this down, my response included as long as the article is!

Sat 16 Aug, 10:17

Without the racist tropes that would be quite a witty and well observed article.

Sat 16 Aug, 09:52

Madeleine Grant in the Spectator today:

We’re used to strange sights in north Oxfordshire. The first person I ever met in our small Cotswolds town was a lady who brandished a tin of homemade mackerel pâté at me. It was delicious, but the nature of her greeting gives you an…

Long post - click to read full text

Sat 16 Aug, 07:57 (last edited on Sat 16 Aug, 07:58)

Mr Sherwood, in an attempt to enlighten you: Charlbury can't possibly be a deniizen of anything. But its population are, mostly, "proponents of" or "adherents to" Liberal Democrat values. Charlbury's elected MP might be a proponent of LibDem values, but he probably isn't because he takes the Labour whip…

Long post - click to read full text

Fri 15 Aug, 22:50 (last edited on Sat 16 Aug, 02:47)

We’ve had all the jiggery-pokery from this establishment’s contempt for the Planning regulations, it would not surprise me if this is a set-up to try and make them look “good” in the eyes of the people! The whole thing is a JOKE!

Fri 15 Aug, 22:37

Imagine Vance coming for a meal in Charlbury, really? Within minutes the word would get out, and both entrances would have been surrounded, and his security detail would probably have struggled to get out, without shooting  there way out. Hilarious story and more good  PR, more like. . 😂😂

Fri 15 Aug, 21:15

In another classic example of British journalism, after no doubt extensive investigation, the Daily Mail headline began 'Woke staff ... threaten walk out...'

Fri 15 Aug, 20:53

It’s sad that over the years Charlbury is becoming more and more a misplaced elitist Liberal Democrat cult, where differences in opinions, beliefs, values and ultimately diversity (not just race and gender) don’t seem to be valued or respected. If it doesn’t fit the Liberal agenda, then exclusion, and quite frankly vitriolic hate seems to be the defacto response. The town feels less welcoming to all, and less inclusive as time goes on. 

Fri 15 Aug, 20:48

Now Washington post https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/08/13/cotswolds-england-summer-americans-vance/

Fri 15 Aug, 19:50

Our vicar's new wife, Madeline Grant, has written a piece on the Vance visit in The Spectator, she's assistant editor (behind a paywall). She also contributes regular scathing articles about our current Prime Minister in The Telegraph. 

Fri 15 Aug, 18:56 (last edited on Fri 15 Aug, 18:57)

JDV and his detail have left the Cotswolds and are about to return to MAGA-land, thereby increasing the average IQ in both places.  

Fri 15 Aug, 18:03

Geniuses - here I am with the impression young people spend their time tick tocking outflouncers. Turns out they did spend time debunking that speech in Munich after all. Well done!

Fri 15 Aug, 17:00

I thought Charlbury was the denizen of Liberal Democratic values given its elected MP and County Councillor.  Suddenly, the good people of the town seem to have taken on the identity of activists but they seem confused about whether they are objecting to J D Vance's politics or his accompanying security circus.  Can someone please enlighten me?

Fri 15 Aug, 12:19 (last edited on Fri 15 Aug, 12:23)

Nigel – the syndicated Yahoo piece says “Vice President JD Vance was reportedly turned away by a popular British pub after staffers threatened not to show up for work if the restaurant booked his reservation” while the Daily Beast claims “However, the staff reportedly staged a mutiny, telling management that they wouldn’t show up to work if the venue accepted Vance’s dinner booking”, so the reporting is indeed suggesting the “on the phone” scenario.

Anyway, must dash – I’m just phoning up to book a table at the Rose & Crown this evening, if they’ll have me.

Fri 15 Aug, 12:00

Am told by a reliable source the Bull staff did indeed object to JD Vance’s visit. And their regulars have been thanking them for it. 

Fri 15 Aug, 11:54

Hans, "turned away," and "asked not to come," and "told to bugger off ," on the phone are very different.

Fri 15 Aug, 10:31

Of course it's clickbait - that the staff refused. However it is not unlikely the former chancellor now holiday organiser did suggest the Bull, given that Kamala was there recently. A booking inquiry could have been done over the phone or the internet, a 24 vehicle SUV motorcade would not have been necessary. Security would have been an issue, but probably not insurmountable. 

Fri 15 Aug, 10:20

I have no idea whetjet the bull did that, but from a security POV no pub in charlbury is good, single entrances to car parks etc. So the Daylesford farm shop with double entrances to the car park was a far better choice. 

Fri 15 Aug, 10:15

The Bull at Charlbury turning down JD Vance’s reservation (on this thread). Does anyone know is this is true? Has anyone heard from anyone who actually works there? It sounds a little far-fetched. The story originated on the showbiz blog Popbitch.. Which is usually reliable however. 

Fri 15 Aug, 09:34

Re J.D Vance "Being turned away from the Bull." 1. You really have to think what's likely here. Is it really that sort of establishment? Really? Do they really employ such radical staff and would they really take a blind bit of notice to such (imaginary) staff 2. Did our eagle eyed illegal parking zealots really not notice a calvacade of blacked our SUV's in Charlbury stopping outside the Bull then moving swiftly on? And not taking photos? 3. Are we so collectively dumb we can't differentiate between AI generated nonsense and the balance of probability? Crumbs, it's as if people actually believe our leader of the county council actually said businesses in Oxford's Botley Road were collapsing, not because of the prolonged two year rail bridge closure blocking them from the city but because of newly inaugurated Donald Trump's proposed tariffs. Sheer nonsense, and like being"turned away from the Bull," impossible for any rational person to believe.

Fri 15 Aug, 09:25

Yes. Agree with Liz. Very good to hear of the Bull staff mutiny. If correct,they  did us all a service. Standing up for decency and also saving Charlbury from the monster 20+ security Circus that would have caused chaos in our narrow streets.

Fri 15 Aug, 08:56 (last edited on Fri 15 Aug, 08:57)

THAT is definitely not boring!  Good for the staff at The Bull, (unless of course this is more media hyperbole). They saved the town from a mini tank invasion.

Fri 15 Aug, 07:41

See, not boring at all.

Fri 15 Aug, 06:09

An American friend made me aware of a similar story. As far as I can see, it is not mentioned in Snopes. 
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailybeast.com%2Fstaff-mutiny-forces-pub-to-turn-away-jd-vance%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4BcI2hqk7pdVQAhI1Z1AHToIixYE4CfAr2ZFL8h1gyTimBF71h4FENPhkmsA_aem_fVz6-6RwlNOoRHAwZFaO5A&h=AT0Mh6wvXvy-ddNZ9eU7QDEI1ogskgNJn8JFNGV9UtU72A-xUGijZTRQLG3TzLv7tB8n6pvjvgNp08GZ1maT_koM5hQW2M1SNCUAroJNyA9OvtXYHcO2oRbipENl79LxngMtWpwYElJSO9ad&__tn__=%2CmH-y-R&c[0]=AT1DLHiN88GCG9gkf7GYM2k7o-t5RDA2rmFI21__BfoV8VpWvBPOwHeuSIjCaUVGAWKy1uD__j8XKDURtK8l9zrqhs-OG64t87Mi9XG0GigU-B_c87-3J4ufgP49QyE7gIgsJ4NcFv9fXoJVXaYPiugEfAPlqg0QPvHd19YJ_lKXXLLhAjWJe7vHRmfxUEk003ugsqeNqUjPrGLi_9zSZ_8g

Fri 15 Aug, 04:27

Not sure if this is true or not, but found this " news" story.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jd-vance-turned-away-british-230900472.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANv0i1isavWMmzbMBC0Ai_H8SKEyBcbULMOXvTPIOB6X_OD70SGbStkVrRRRYQTvLMZ7wmrnazMxmRH5DVuvDMUB1REcCWEUx5aetwukWV1aXgHVB66y9ztd0DZr6af9mtlyBBNAVSwx1f-eyiStACKVlbV-yiNBGQNcE1hutnFH

Thu 14 Aug, 17:48

I am absolutely fascinated with the Charlbury Forum but a bit bored with the whole JD Vance in the Cotswolds story. Of course Trump and his acolytes are beyond a nightmare. However, I thought this fortnight's Private Eye summed it up well:

Thu 14 Aug, 17:26

I agree with you Hans.

We can all choose to read what we want.  At present.  We enjoy that freedom.

I suppose that some would have been "bored" by the diatribes against Hitler and Mussolini.

Free speech, however "boring", is an essential component of democracy.

Thu 14 Aug, 17:18

I find it fascinating. Those who are bored may choose to look elsewhere?

Thu 14 Aug, 17:13

Me too. Especially by the media hyperbole

Thu 14 Aug, 16:41

I am

Thu 14 Aug, 16:05

Anyone else bored of this thread… or just me 

Thu 14 Aug, 14:58

Gone fishing . . . ! Kris

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7jdkmvvv1o

Thu 14 Aug, 14:09

And here we are in the Wall Street Journal!

Thu 14 Aug, 09:01

"Chaos in the Cotswolds as Protests Erupt against JD Vance's Holiday in Quaint Village"

Headline in today's The Independent - of all places - with 'that' picture.  Can't say I noticed anyone 'erupting' - oh, maybe Richard with his stepladder??   British journalism, doncha just love it?!

Wed 13 Aug, 21:15

The whole charade was obscene.  No respect.  

I thought the church bells sounded particularly joyous this evening.  Thank you.

Wed 13 Aug, 20:08

Tourist visits Hampton Court Palace

Wed 13 Aug, 20:03

He will seemingly be gone from here after or before 23:00 today. As for the environmental aspects see here

Wed 13 Aug, 19:20

Good riddance…..

Wed 13 Aug, 19:04

He probably got homesick for fascism and didn't feel comfortable in a country where women have the right to choose and we don't send law abiding citizens to camps in Guantanamo or Alcatraz. 

Wed 13 Aug, 18:03

He's gone! The road through Dean has now re-opened, with just a few black vehicles, US Secret Service personnel and lonely policemen still guarding footpaths to show he had been here.

Wed 13 Aug, 17:54

It's better  that he's on holiday here than in Israel, Russia or Belarus.  

Wed 13 Aug, 15:53

On our way back from the Lido just after 2pm, I was stopped on road - as very hot, I chose a patch of shad a very short way ahead & still a way off motorcyclist.  He threw up arm to stop me, wound my window to shout I wanted to be in the shade.  Took around 5 mins wait 14 cars & loads of motorbikes.  
I find this whole visit absolutely obscene.  Do we know who is paying the cost?

Wed 13 Aug, 15:42

Poor policemen, if they have school-age children and have had to cancel planned holidays.

One of the more absurd things I saw today, just off the road from Chipping Norton as it turns downhill towards Spelsbury, was a gazebo in a stubble field, occupied by two fully uniformed policemen staring into their phones. Off the road nearby was an SUV apparently containing reinforcements. The supposed footpath they are guarding is probably unknown to most people; walkers who park near that spot usually strike off in other directions.  And do the Home Office/Police really think that anyone is willing to risk being shot by US security guards if they penetrate the outskirts of Dean?

Wed 13 Aug, 15:42

The protest has now featured on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel, which has 5 million subscribers. An American posted, 'Thank you England, you made my day.'.

Wed 13 Aug, 15:35

The London Economic's story headline "Anti-Vance protest takes over Cotswold Village" manages to squeeze in an error of fact, a gross exaggeration and a misuse of capitalisation in just a few words. Such is the state of cut-and-paster journalism these days.

Wed 13 Aug, 15:01 (last edited on Wed 13 Aug, 15:06)

Wed 13 Aug, 13:15 (last edited on Wed 13 Aug, 13:15)

The protest also made The London Economic.

Wed 13 Aug, 11:32

Reuters text piece here https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/us-vice-president-vances-english-getaway-stirs-up-local-opposition-2025-08-12/

Wed 13 Aug, 09:37

On The Rest is Politics (required listening) Alistair Campbell has just said that a friend of his who was on the scene said that when the convoy made a three point turn it took about an hour - all those vehicles in our 'little country lanes.'

Wed 13 Aug, 09:24

Liz, to maintain it well, you always turn your compost.

Just like Vance is doing, in fact ...

Wed 13 Aug, 09:17

Far more worrying is his choice of guests - first Jenrick and now Farage coming to have breakfast with him today.  An unhappy vision of the future.

Wed 13 Aug, 08:42

Yes, because when Biden came from the G7 (?) he had 17, so obviously the republicans have to show they're better. 

Although if Vance had fewer they could have got a dig in at Biden for wasting money. Maybe DOGE should look into it.

(Sorry Richard)

Wed 13 Aug, 08:16

Did he really need 22 blacked out SUVs?!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BrFbbo6Yb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Wed 13 Aug, 00:46 (last edited on Wed 13 Aug, 00:54)

The Spanish Guardian by the looks of it @Harriet Baldwin?

It looks like it's also made the NBC News https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_SmzmbsZkgo

Tue 12 Aug, 22:45

Made the international press

Tue 12 Aug, 21:03

Emily ... SCHOOL cabbage ...

... with all the goodness boiled out of it ...

Tue 12 Aug, 20:06

That was a lovely civilised and entirely peaceful protest. Charlbury at its best. The contrast with the vulgar and OTT 23 SUVs  that accompanied the US VP was stark. 

Tue 12 Aug, 20:02

Top story Channel 4 News too

.

Tue 12 Aug, 19:32

Now we have got our negative feelings out of our systems... lets wave Vance goodbye and wish him a safe journey back to America. I, for one, wish to continue enjoying my happy life in one of the best towns in the UK... yes BBC South, I said town!

Tue 12 Aug, 19:11

Grauniad as well: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/12/cotswolds-residents-protest-against-jd-vance-visit-charlbury 

Tue 12 Aug, 18:43

Main story on BBC News South just now. 

Tue 12 Aug, 17:35

Whoever it was who was actually touting “Down with this sort of thing” and “Careful now” placards, bravo!

Tue 12 Aug, 17:27

Tue 12 Aug, 17:02

Salad? I dunno, he looks more like cabbage sort of guy.

Tue 12 Aug, 16:51

He's popping over to our house this evening for a lasagne and salad.

Tue 12 Aug, 16:49

Congrats to the organisers of the protest. The signs are brilliant! Hopefully this keeps him out of Charlbury 💪🏻

Tue 12 Aug, 16:41

Tue 12 Aug, 16:19

At this peaceful protest will there be American Buffalo Burgers and Steak Fries on sale or do we need to visit The Bull?

Tue 12 Aug, 15:44

I have just been to. Chipping  Norton & seen at least 6 police cars & vans at fire station.  Police walking the streets plus cars driving around.  In fields small marquees holding 2 police men each  in different fields & lane closures. Absolutely ridiculous.  

Tue 12 Aug, 15:41

Angela, this is England - no-one's going to be doing any shooting!

But as for the organisers - there's a well known expression involving breweries....

Tue 12 Aug, 15:40

Hannen, the link worked for me and the 'pin point' on Google Maps is at the 'Victoria drinking fountain' on the Playing Close. Best I can tell you.

Tue 12 Aug, 15:35

It is The Playing Close.

Please don’t shoot me! I’m just the messenger.

Tue 12 Aug, 15:35

Frankly, unbelievable. You only have to look at Mill Lane to see the potential problems and risks.  Obviously no-one did - or engaged their brains.  

So, are there going to be stewards re-directing everybody??

As for the NS article... is that what passes for 'investigative journalism' these days??

Tue 12 Aug, 15:32

The link doesn't work for me Angela.

Can someone please just say where it is?  It sounds as though it may be the Playing Close.  

Thank you.

Tue 12 Aug, 15:10

Just heard from organisers. IMPORTANT: CHANGE OF LOCATION

Hi everyone, Jake at Stop Trump Coalition here with Zoe; we’ve arrived and looked around. We’re moving the meeting point to a park right by the Co-Op; it has better space and shade for us and the press, and is not tucked away etc. it’s a short walk from the previous site.

Please meet us at 4pm here:

https://maps.google.com?q=51.8736192,-1.4811795&entry=gps&lucs=,94282563,94284457,94224825,94227247,94227248,94231188,47071704,47069508,94218641,94282134,94203019,47084304&g_st=ipc

Tue 12 Aug, 14:40

What a load of pompous drivel that New Stateman article is! I presume Finn McWhoever is actually being paid for this (with expenses) as he enjoys his extensive lunch and one too many dinks in the Bell?  Somebody please pop in and give him some actual facts. I'd probably be ruder to him than I would be to JD Vance.

Tue 12 Aug, 14:11

“A bus drives past, with one passenger – there is not much need for public transit when everyone has their 4×4, newest model.”

Lazy twit.

Tue 12 Aug, 13:47 (last edited on Tue 12 Aug, 13:54)

There is also a piece in the New Statesman here: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/society/2025/08/cotswolds-plot-against-jd-vance-charlbury. Posted for information rather than endorsement because, well, it’s specious nonsense.

Tue 12 Aug, 12:31

In case of interest, the piece by my Reuters colleagues who are also in town to cover the visit and protest (picked up and run on a media client's own platform but source is Reuters): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_9VBTxvyrA

Tue 12 Aug, 12:13

While the Town Council is aware of the planned gathering, it is not correct to say that the Council “has no problem” with it. The Council is politically neutral and is not taking a position either in support of or against the event. We are not involved in organising it and are not endorsing it.

Our role is simply to ensure that Council land is managed appropriately and that we liaise with the relevant authorities to maintain public safety

Tue 12 Aug, 12:10

Thanks Angela for your messages. I sincerely hope everything goes to plan and without difficulty.  

I put the wrong emphasis in my earlier post.  Far more important than a few roof tiles and timbers is the risk of conflict between pedestrians and vehicles in a lane of only single vehicle width.  The Riverside folk (mostly!) understand this and drive carefully - and they rightly put stewards at the road junction.

But whatever label you put on this, it will be a publicly announced gathering in protest at the presence of the American VP only a few miles away, with press invited.  And the organisers have a 'broad message' including about Palestine.

I don't want to put anyone off and will be attending (or standing guard!) myself but as Richard Broughton points out, it's likely to be surveilled - and is unlikely to be seen as just a bunch of 'country folk' having a party!  

Tue 12 Aug, 11:58

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25380261.cotswolds-protests-arranged-us-vice-president-jd-vance/

Mon 11 Aug, 19:13

I do hope someone is going to turn up with a placard reading “DFS sofa sale ends soon”.

Mon 11 Aug, 16:56

Vance loves free speech but only his and his followers, and only if it is without consequence. 

I wish you luck Angela! Sadly I can’t be there tomorrow but will very much be there in spirit. 

Mon 11 Aug, 16:52

The right to protest is fundamental to a properly functioning and vibrant democracy. Indeed I believe the US Vice president has been vocal on the subject of free speech in Europe. Having studied the wonderful George Orwell 1984 I think we should all be wary of the growing intrusion of the State in surveillance , but not let this put us off exercising those cherished values that are encapsulated by the wonderful Quaker saying “ speak truth-to power”. 

Mon 11 Aug, 16:51 (last edited on Tue 12 Aug, 10:00)

message passed on from Zoe, Stop Trump Coalition, for people who may be worried, and just to reassure:

1. This is a gathering of locals who will be respectful & peaceful

2. We are giving people parking instructions away from mill lane & will direct any cars away from there to ensure properties are safe

3. The Town Clerk is aware and says the town council isn’t getting involved.

4. We have contacted the local pub who are unworried - we’re not going to be protesting at the pub, just having a drink at the end of the day,

5. We know it’s a small town and do not expect to be a huge group or overwhelm the place, really just want to support local people to make their voices heard safely against Vance and are so pleased at all the support from local voices so far

Mon 11 Aug, 16:07

Exclusion from the US?  Not a problem.  But extreme right libertarianism is a problem to communities everywhere.  The breaking of laws, institutions, inter-national agreements, political systems.  The breaking of systems to what end?  Personal benefit and individualism.  These characters seem to want to plunder the planet, divide us one against the other and pass by the poor Samaritan.  That's a lot to fit on one sign.

Mon 11 Aug, 15:29

Exactly. Which is why certain people's comments on the forum (not just on this thread, but others relating to it) to people with American families are bang out of order

Mon 11 Aug, 15:28

I got our fabulous forum a shoutout on the BBC when Americast got in touch after I messaged them last week asking what we might reasonably expect with JDVance visiting. I had no idea they’d get in touch but they called today. Second question on today’s Americanswers bbc radio five live and on bbc sounds or Spotify etc, with Matt Chorley. Not a hugely deep or meaingingful set of questions but fun to be chosen to appear. Heaven forbid he actually wants to come into Charlbury itself, shocking statistics about unpaid parking fees the US clocks up while they’re over here!!

Mon 11 Aug, 15:22

A word of caution for anyone who might be thinking of visiting the US. Given the publicity and the location, this event is likely to be surveilled by both domestic and foreign agencies. Put that together with the capabilities of facial recognition and you might find the US immigration agent looking at your picture from this event when you next pass through a US airport.

Mon 11 Aug, 14:39

So this is what Zoe is saying recently in her recruitment of you guys for making your voice heard.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNF3spsoltt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Mon 11 Aug, 14:22

Dear Laura,

Your point is well-made and well-taken; I have friends in the USA who are breaking their hearts.  I hope that we have made you welcome, made you feel at home, and have not indulged in stereotyping. 

But - at some point every President has had to explain to his children (maybe before he had planned to) that in his position he very often finds himself in situations where there are only bad choices, and that the people who elected him judged that he had the moral character to choose as best he could.   And JDV's children, when they look online as they're bound to, will see him making some very bad choices simply because he can.  They'll observe him behaving appallingly, in public, to a good man who has asked for help defeating someone who's killing his people.   They'll see him involved in policies where 'the cruelty is the point.'   At school they'll learn about the Constitution that their father vowed to uphold, but they'll see him giving fealty to a self-absorbed liar who is destroying much of that Constitution.   Love them or hate them, I can't think of any other Presidents or Vice-Presidents who would have had JD's difficulties explaining.  

There's a very good book by Craig McNamara - youngest child of Robert McNamara, Secretary to the Vietnam War - about his difficulties growing up in his father's shadow; he called it Because Our Fathers Lied.   Yes, JD's kids should have a fruitful childhood; but wouldn't it be better if he could give a good answer when they ask What did you do today at the office, Daddy?

Mon 11 Aug, 12:53

I would have thought any protests at the Rose & Crown would be better focused on the beer prices - up c.20% since Oak Taverns took over in June!

Mon 11 Aug, 12:38

While I fully support the reasons for this, and most likely will attend, it's surprising at best that the organisers have not thought fit to contact the residents of Mill Lane nor as far as I am aware to have taken any precautionary steps, given that the press have been invited and that the police are bound to be involved - how could they not be?

Mill Lane is not a public road, there is no public parking available and very limited turning space.  Please ensure there are stewards on hand to re-direct traffic - my porch and woodwork have already been damaged once this year (by an oversized vehicle  trying to get to Riverside) - and I quite like my house the way it is!

I believe Riverside's temporary footbridge is still in place over the Mill Stream so may be available as an alternative route - with limited parking also available next to it..

Mon 11 Aug, 11:46

In support of Valerie's earlier comment.... Zelensky = Hero; JD Vance = Zero. That is the sum of it and I trust will be history's judgement. 

Mon 11 Aug, 09:49 (last edited on Mon 11 Aug, 09:50)

Jen, just to be clear, I think of the children whose parents are taken by ICE every single day. But I'm happy to agree to disagree with you on this point.  As I said, I'll be at the protest tomorrow, as I have been at others. Perhaps we'll meet.

Mon 11 Aug, 09:26

Very much agree with you Jen! 

Mon 11 Aug, 09:21

Sorry Laura, but I disagree with you.  While I do agree that the Vance children (like the Obama children) are innocent of the decisions that their parents make, I think that the impact to his children is a consequence that Vance has to deal with.  I would much rather make his children embarrassed or even afraid but have my voice known for the thousands and hundreds of thousands of children (not of privilege) who are daily impacted by his policies.  Frankly, I don't give a toss if this is his family holiday, who is thinking of the children whose parents are taken away daily by ICE agents?  And I am also an American who has lived here for a long time so I have a vested interest.  

Mon 11 Aug, 09:11

Laura – your posting has made it into the Sunday Times! https://archive.ph/CTKr4

Mon 11 Aug, 03:23

I agree with @Natasha and @John. Yes, we should avoid anything that is targeted at the Vance children as they can't choose their parents. However, neither can the children of countless families that have been ripped apart by the Trump administration's draconian immigration enforcement. Just a few weeks ago in Arizona, a maternity unit was raided and a new mother was detained by ICE. She was given the 'choice' of having her baby deported with her or separated from her by remaining in the US. So...that. Vance isn't at all concerned about other people's families, and we're paying him too much ill-deserved respect by caring about his. I'll be at the meet-up on Tuesday because (either through the press or a passing glance from his motorcade) he needs to know that we oppose his repugnant ideas and disguising policies. Now....back to my sign making!.....

Sun 10 Aug, 20:57

I don't wish to be dismissive, but a) he or anyone else from the US government will not be at the Mill Field or the R&C, b)given the 'alternative facts' issued by the curent USA regime, it won't be noticed. I will now say "direct action is the only thing that gets results" and now await the knock on my door. By direct action, I would mean standing in front of the holiday home with a placard that says 'nyet'.

Sun 10 Aug, 19:42

@Valerie. My contribution to the list of reasons to protest on Tuesday is "hypocricy". 

He dared to lecture Europe (in the widest sense) about our dreadful repression of free speech, while withdrawing funding from universities that dare to criticise Trump and his policies, banning reporters that tell the truth from White House briefings and official visits, and bullying and intimidating media organisations that stand up to him. Who would have thought one day I would be on the side of Rupert Murdoch!

Sun 10 Aug, 17:54

Adding my three-ha'p'orth.  I shall be at the Mill Field, largely because Mr Vance (who, I agree, is clearly a bully & a boor) and his family won't be.  I don't know if his wife is complicit or merely long-suffering (I wouldn't want my wife to be pilloried for her husband's vices), but his children clearly can't help who their father is.

But the other reason I shall be there (apart from the promise of more shared indignation in the Rose & Crown afterwards) is the fact that the press apparently will be.  Marina Hyde recently wrote in the Guardian:  "As for why Vance has picked the Cotswolds, it’s possibly a smart move to holiday somewhere filled with so many of the absolute worst people in the country".  I don't know where she gets that idea from (she's normally pretty sound, in my opinion), but clearly the metropolitan chatterati need to see that most of us aren't in fact MAGA fellow-travellers,

Sun 10 Aug, 15:25 (last edited on Sun 10 Aug, 15:25)

Can we dial down the snarky images, please? Thank you.

Sun 10 Aug, 15:12

Hi!  As a non-local who's hoping to come to the JD Vance protest on Tuesday afternoon, I thought I'd respond to a couple of the concerns raised on this forum.

I'm keen to go to the Rose and Crown, not to continue protesting, but just to have a cold beer after what looks likely to be a very hot afternoon in the sun.

Likewise, I don't want to do anything to alarm or offend any kids at the nursery or indeed any other locals.

Personally, it's important for me to show up because I was so repulsed by Vance's bullying of Zelenskyy that I don't want him to visit our country and get the impression that we're okay with that. 

Now I just need to think of a sign that's as creative as those the people in Vermont came up with when Vance holidayed there... 

All the best!

Sun 10 Aug, 14:53 (last edited on Sun 10 Aug, 14:55)

Simon, why would children be scared of a protest? Plenty of children attended the March against Brexit and the Women's March in London and loved it! I also doubt Angela is going to doing anything raucous inside, or outside the Rose & Crown. 

Sun 10 Aug, 11:34 (last edited on Sun 10 Aug, 11:35)

Thanks for letting us know about this Angela. I'll try to be there.  I'm posting this, though, partly in response to various calls for protest during Vance's visit. For those who don't know me, I'm an American, long-time resident in the UK, who is sickened more than I can say be what is happening in the US and it's impact on the whole world.  I am sorry that my country of citizenship is such a threat, and I am all for peaceful protest at every opportunity.

What has stopped me jumping on board with ideas of protesting this visit is the fact that this is a family trip and, as I understand it, Vance will have his young children with him. Children don't choose their parents, and don't deserve to be punished for loving the ones they draw. I have the faces of the young Obama girls, hearing the opposing side's jeers and racist abuse on election night 2008, seared on my memory. They didn't deserve that, and not just because their father is on my side of the political fence. They were children. 

Let's all who deplore Trump, Vance, and the deplorable situation in the US raise our voices in any way we can. But let's be careful not to catch any innocent children in the crossfire. 

Sun 10 Aug, 11:19 (last edited on Sun 10 Aug, 11:21)

I’m not sure that the Rose & Crown will be very happy with this.  Have you asked their permission to use their facility.  If not somebody should out of courtesy.  Especially as you’re likely to have members of the Press with you.

Sun 10 Aug, 08:12

Could I kindly ask that any protesting that may continue in The Rose and Crown is kept to a level as to not disturb or frighten the children across the road in the nursery. I'm sure people will be responsible, but occasionally, things can get carried away. Thank you for your understanding. 

Sat 9 Aug, 19:57

Would it be permissible for members to state our reasons for protesting?  On the chance that his minders might be reading here? 

If so, I'll start - maybe one instance per person?

'Hilaire Belloc said that the grace of God lies in courtesy.  You claim to be a newly-minted Christian, but we haven't observed much courtesy - ask President Zelenskyy.'

Sat 9 Aug, 15:13

I have been contacted by Zoe at the Stop Trump Coalition who wish to peacefully protest Vance’s visit and are keen to garner local support. Here are the details.

‘We at STC are in discussions about peacefully protesting JDV's visit in August and would love to collaborate with local folks.

STC messaging is very broad focusing on palestine, inequality, migrants, ukraine, trade justice, womens rights, lgbtq rights & climate.

We will arrive in Charlbury on Tuesday 12 August and invite all who are interested to come to Mill Field, Mill Lane at 16.00. Here we will distribute some materials and exchange ideas. Members of the press are invited for 16.30. At 17.30 we will retire to The Rose & Crown for debrief, planning, etc.

We aren’t really able to coordinate a confrontation as - as you’ve seen - we don’t know where he will be when during the visit, so we can’t really ambush him, or at least maybe locals could but for us coming up we can’t really plan it that way, so the idea is to get lots of footage/press content and distribute flags banners and materials to you guys there and yeah. That’s all we can really do, but hopefully it’s something worthwhile. But that’s why it’s billed as a “meet-up” not a demo as such

Here is the itinerary:

16:00 - Meet activists/briefing at Mill Field, Mill Lane

16.30 - press invited for this time - interviews, capture banners, chanting etc

17.30 - to the Rose & Crown for a debrief, planning session, rest, social