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On Friday, President Donald Trump continued to exploit Americans' fear of terrorism by signing an executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven heavily Muslim countries from entering the United States. Protests against the order have broken out at airports nationwide, and if you're headed to one yourself, you're probably looking for sign ideas to protest the refugee ban.
Unfortunately, you have plenty of angles to choose from. According to CNN, the sweeping order bars approximately 218 million people from entering the United States. Legal travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries — Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen — have been temporarily banned, and Trump's order put an indefinite hold on the admission of refugees for at least four months while his administration reconsiders admission processes. He also calls for the eventual prioritization of refugees by religion. (If you're interested, you can read the full text here.)
On Sunday, protesters celebrated the decision by a federal judge in New York to temporarily block part of the executive order on the grounds that authorities can't deport individuals from the seven banned countries who arrived before the order was signed. However, protests are still ongoing at airports in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and more. If you plan on joining them, here are 13 creative ideas for signs protesting the refugee ban.
1Require A Double-Take
At first glance, this just looks like a call to resist, but if you read the fine print, this sign has an excerpt from "New Colossus," a sonnet by poet Emma Lazarus, immortalized on a plaque at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty.
2Keep It Simple
Keep in mind what you're demonstrating.
3Reference The Statue Of Liberty
This sign refers to one of the most recognizable phrases from "New Colossus," but there's plenty of material to choose from.
4Demonstrate Your Welcome
Stress the importance of welcoming everyone to the United States, particularly those forced to escape their own countries.
5Highlight The Number Of Past Immigrants
The U.S. was built on refugees; the Pilgrims came to North America fleeing religious persecution in England. Use your sign to point out that most of us are descended from immigrants.
6Get Personal
PSA: Melania Trump was born in Slovenia, making her an immigrant. I wonder what she thinks of her husband's policies.
7Make It Big
It's hard to miss the neon lights and giant letters that make up this sign.
9Let Legal Immigrants In
The refugee ban affects travelers with legal passports for at least 90 days.
12Look To History
In 1939, due to immigration quotas, the U.S. turned away a group of Jewish refugees from Germany. They returned to Europe, where 254 later perished in the Holocaust. Use history to inform your protest signs.
13Support Those Affected
In addition to a pause on all refugees entering the U.S., Trump's ban affects legal immigrants from countries whose populations are primarily Muslim. While you're protesting, support everyone affected by the ban — solidarity is more important than ever these days.
