President Donald Trump's executive order, “Protection Of The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States,” which went into effect Jan. 27 with little notice, has left thousands of people in limbo. The executive order, which seems to have been put into place with little thought as to how it will affect thousands of people, has left people stranded mid-travel, has separated families, prevented Green-Card-holding American residents from returning home, and devastated those who had been approved to come to the U.S. to escape persecution in their home countries. While the New York Times just released a breaking story that claims Green Card holders will be allowed to re-enter the U.S., others are still being detained. If you're mad AF (and you have every right to be), turn your anger into action by joining a refugee ban protest.
Trump's order effectively bans refugees from entering the country for 120 days, and bars entry to the U.S. for 90 days for people traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, indefinitely.
On Saturday, Jan. 28, thousands of protestors took to the airports around the country chanting "let them in." The ACLU responded by working tirelessly to assist those who were being detained.
Need your faith in humanity restored, or have any doubt that protesting makes a difference? Watch this video of a detainee being released at JFK International Airport.
If you want to add your voice to the outcry, here's how you can find a refugee ban protest near you. Use the search tool in Facebook. Type in "muslim ban protest" and then select "see all." This will bring up all protest events happening near you, across the country, and around the world.
ThinkProgress also started a Google Docs spreadsheet with a list of protests that can be added to as new events surface. If there is not a protest available near you, consider starting your own. Each act of defiance thus far is because one person said, "this is wrong." Gather your friends and head to a public forum like a park, sidewalk or street where peaceful protect is protected under the U.S. Constitution.
Additionally, educate yourself and your fellow protestors about how to protest safely. If you live near an international airport, and a protest isn't already scheduled, you can organize one there. However, the according to the ACLU, "Your rights are less clearly protected. At military bases, airport terminals, or the entrance to a post office, for example, reasonable prohibitions and restrictions may be upheld, as long as they are objectively applied and do not favor one side of an issue over the other. The government cannot discriminate based on viewpoint, even in a non-public forum." So just make sure you are abiding by the laws in these locations.
And in the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Let's keep fighting the good fight, because we are the resistance.
