Nobel prize winner Wole Soyinka throws away green card after Donald Trump win
Celebrated playwright previously said he would 'pack his bags' and leave the US if real estate mogul won the election
The Nobel-prize winning author Wole Soyinka has thrown away his green card in protest of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Soyinka, who hails from Nigeria, became the first African to win the Nobel prize for literature in 1986. He has resided in the US for more than 20 years and is a regular teacher at prestigious universities such as Harvard, Cornell and Yale.
Prior to the US election, he vowed to throw away his green card – a permanent residence permit for the United States – and “start packing” should Mr Trump win and now that has happened he is sticking to his pledge.
President Trump protests
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President Trump protests
1/20
Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California
Reuters
2/20
Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California
Reuters
3/20
Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
Reuters
4/20
Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency
AFP/Getty Images
5/20
Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois
Getty
6/20
A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California
Reuters
7/20
An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California
Reuters
8/20
Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States
Reuters
9/20
A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California
EPA
10/20
A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California
Reuters
11/20
Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada
Reuters
12/20
Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City
Getty
13/20
A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood
AP
14/20
A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood
AP
15/20
A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood
AP
16/20
University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
Reuters
17/20
An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif
AP
18/20
A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif
AP
19/20
President-elect Donald Trumpís victory set off multiple protests
AP
20/20
A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif
AP
1/20
Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California
Reuters
2/20
Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California
Reuters
3/20
Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
Reuters
4/20
Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency
AFP/Getty Images
5/20
Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois
Getty
6/20
A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California
Reuters
7/20
An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California
Reuters
8/20
Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States
Reuters
9/20
A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California
EPA
10/20
A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California
Reuters
11/20
Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada
Reuters
12/20
Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City
Getty
13/20
A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood
AP
14/20
A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood
AP
15/20
A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood
AP
16/20
University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
Reuters
17/20
An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif
AP
18/20
A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif
AP
19/20
President-elect Donald Trumpís victory set off multiple protests
AP
20/20
A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif
AP
“I have already done it, I have disengaged [from the United States]. I have done what I said I would do,” the 82-year-old told the AFP news agency at the Times Higher Education BRICS and Emerging Economies Universities Summit in Johannesburg.
“I had a horror of what is to come with Trump… I threw away the card and I have relocated, and I’m back to where I have always been,” reportedly meaning Nigeria.
He added that he would not discourage anyone from applying for a green card but, for him, Mr Trump’s presidency signalled it was the right moment to leave.
“It’s useful in many ways. I wouldn’t for one single moment discourage any Nigerians or anybody from acquiring a green card but I have had enough of it,” he said.
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