NEW YORK // "Let them in!" protesters chanted at John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York on Saturday as hundreds gathered to protest against the latest executive order by President Donald Trump which bans travellers from several Muslim-majority countries.
Others shouted, “No ban; No wall” and “No hate, no fear; refugees are welcome here” as police beefed up their presence.
Mr Trump’s order — which prevents people from Libya, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days — has not only affected refugees but also green card holders and people with valid visas, who were detained at airports and deboarded from their flights.
But a federal judge issued an emergency order on Saturday night that temporarily blocked the US government from deporting people subject to Mr Trump's travel ban, saying their legal rights had been violated.
Suzanne Gardinier, a college professor at Sarah Lawrence in New York, was among the protesters. “My students, my colleagues are terrified; terrified on one level but also as you can see from this, in real spirit, resisting it. No way will the American people accept this.”
Police were seen cordoning off certain areas with barricades and police vehicles, as the protests swelled. Many people told The National that they were stopped from entering the airport and were asked to go back due to security concerns.
“We are trying to go to JFK to let our voices [be] heard,” said New York resident, Lauren Gottleb.
“It is sad to think that it is these seven countries today but what is it going to be tomorrow?” asked Allia Mohamed, an Egyptian-Canadian student at Columbia University, who believes Mr Trump’s actions can be far-reaching.
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“These executive orders could expand to Muslims in general, people with Arabic names and people with Muslim names and it is something that is really terrifying, especially in America which is supposed to be a country of the free,” she said.
Rachel Goldenberg, a Jewish Rabbi who lives in New York with her 14-year-old daughter, was at the protest too.
“My ancestors came here as immigrants but so many others were turned away in 1939 to be killed in the gas chambers. I think it is the obligation of every Jew to come down and protest this inhumane order and protect refugees against this ban. We can’t let this happen again,” she said.
Many passengers were left in a state of confusion as the police blocked people from getting on the train to get into JFK, while others who landed at JFK were seen joining the crowds in protest.
“I was really lucky enough to land at JFK right now to join my brothers and sisters in protesting this absolutely immoral action by the president of US,” said Tor Berg who lives in the San Francisco Bay area, and had just arrived in New York for a meeting. “I think we should be out here every day and reminding the president that his policies are not going to work for US and they are not supported by the American people and that he stands lonely.”
A family of six who flew down to New York from Mexico also criticised the ban.
“I think Trump is terrible and yes, he can do vetting but it should be done reasonably. You can’t just ban people from coming to the US, this country is made of immigrants. We are coming from Mexico and yes, we came through the wall.”
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
