Protesters rally at Atlanta airport against Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’
“This is what democracy looks like”
What protesters called a “Muslim ban” is Trump’s stab at fulfilling his campaign promise to enact a temporary Muslim travel ban “[http://www.clatl.com/news/article/13085815/state-senators-backing-trump-unfazed-by-muslim-travel-ban-proposal-update|until we figure out what is going on with radical Islamist terrorism.]” The new president’s Jan. 27 executive order temporarily halts immigration from “terror-linked” countries Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — although Syrian refugees are indefinitely barred — and it has prompted the deportation and detention of immigrants and refugees.
A federal judge, however, recently lodged a stay protecting these detained immigrants from deportation, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said he thinks it’ll stick. Reed — who’s promised Atlanta will always welcome immigrants — told Creative Loafing he thinks Trump’s new law “is unconstitutional.”
Reed tweeted Saturday that the 11 lawful residents who were detained in HJIA Customs have since been released and cleared for entry into the U.S. But, as of press time, one Georgia State University student is still being held in Saudi Arabia because she’s a Yemeni citizen, according to the Signal.
So civil rights advocates are far from done fighting what they call a discriminatory and unlawful presidential order. The Council on American-Islamic Relations today filed a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the executive order. Edward Mitchell, executive director of CAIR’s Georgia chapter, said “the executive order is not about keeping America safe; it is about keeping America racially, religiously and culturally monolithic.”
Mitchell said he thinks Trump doesn’t care what progressive protesters have to say, “but what will matter to him is international outcry from our allies and Republicans in Congress.”
And the American Civil Liberties Union, which lobbied to have the judge balk the ban’s detention and deportation practices, is concocting another lawsuit that aims to topple Trump’s new law in one fell swoop, according to Andrea Young, head of ACLU’s Georgia arm. Young added that Sunday’s rally sent an important message to Muslims and refugees: “That people do care, people agree this is unjust, and people are standing with them. And the order from the president doesn’t reflect what people in this community and communities around the country feel about immigration.” And she noted that not a single refugee from the targeted nations has ever killed an American in a domestic terror attack.
Asma Elhuni, co-organizer of Sunday’s rally, said she helped wrangle supporters to the protest in an effort to thwart what they believe is discriminatory governing.
“This is very similar to what America did with the internment camps for the Japanese, but I think the protest will send a strong message, not to Trump — he couldn’t care less — but to representatives and elected officials,” she said, adding that she and others are frustrated that Reed won’t commit to making Atlanta a “sanctuary city” for refugees.
A handful of picket signs at the protest displayed Georgia’s U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s phone number, suggesting people call him to voice their distaste for the “Muslim ban.” Isakson was not immediately available for comment. Nor were Republican state Sens. Burt Jones or Michael Williams, who both backed Trump’s Muslim travel ban proposal in December 2015.
UPDATE: We received a statement today from Sen. Isakson on the recent immigration executive order:
“President Trump and his administration have been taking steps to fulfill his campaign promises, and he’s right that we need to strengthen our national security and improve the vetting process for people coming into our country. Unfortunately, some important aspects of the process to ensure that this temporary travel ban could be implemented smoothly were overlooked. I hope that President Trump will consult with the national security team he has assembled with the advice and consent of the Senate, so that security measures are properly implemented and do not infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. I also believe that America should continue to be welcoming to refugees who are fleeing war and persecution and who share America’s ideals and values.”