From the ‘Trump Baby’ to ‘Kill Tory Scum’ – why going straight to the source matters when it comes to protests

First-hand accounts aren’t always possible. Sometimes the person at a centre of a story is unreachable, or unwilling to relay it. But when they are, it can be just as impactful and informative as a news report

From analysis, to reaction pieces, to personal essays, it takes an array of perspectives to make Voices what it is. We hear from authorities on niche subjects on a regular basis, ordinary people with gripping, topical stories to tell, and more. But sometimes going straight to the source of a story is the best way to build on news that’s already been reported.

Take Donald Trump’s UK state visit, for example. It goes without saying that the divisive figure’s presence invites strong reactions. Last year, it came in the form of mass protests and that now world-famous baby Trump blimp. This year, it was much of the same, although the intensity of the protests seems to have ramped up marginally since the last time.

As soon as Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit in April, we knew these protests would occur. Hours after it had been announced, MPs threatened (and later followed through on their promise) to boycott the banquet we saw take place last week. And although it was only confirmed a few days before the US president’s arrival, we all knew (or at least hoped) the Trump baby would make its return to the London skies.

In situations like these, protests tend to take on a life of their own, their original meaning often drowned out by the macro causes that tend to flock to mass protest movements. So it was important that we commissioned the right person. And what better way to get to the crux of that, than to commission one of the organisers behind the baby? Anna Vickerstaff.

Instead of inviting someone to speculate over the intent behind the blimp, it was much more effective to publish something from someone who was directly involved, ultimately providing sceptics of the demonstration with direct answers to their questions.

Did these people think a personal attack on Trump of this nature was fair? Many people may have thought this. But rather than looking solely to individual supporters or opponents of the protest, they were given an answer pretty much as soon as the US president himself landed on UK soil. According to Vickerstaff: “The answer is yes. Trump is responsible for thousands of personal attacks and the power and politics of the far right is a dangerous threat to the lives of thousands here and around the world.”

And it doesn’t just apply to Trump or protests. When Glastonbury Festival pulled electro-punk band Killdren from its bill over their song “Kill Tory Scum” on Monday, we knew they were best positioned to respond to the news themselves, even if it seemed like a cut and dried story to many.

Of course, first-hand accounts aren’t always possible. Sometimes the person at a centre of a story is unreachable, or unwilling to relay it. But when they are, it can be just as impactful and informative as a news report, even if you don’t necessarily agree with their point of view.

Yours

Kuba Shand-Baptiste

Voices commissioning editor