By Walid Sankari
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Syrian Community Network, Mosque Foundation, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), CAIR-Chicago, Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago, Center for Islamic Teachings and Community Development (CITCD), Jewish Voice for Peace – Chicago, and hundreds of others united to protest President Donald Trump’s #MuslimBan at O’Hare airport on January 28.
The protests are part of a national series of public demonstrations in response to the detainment of immigrants and refugees at international airports from JFK to LAX.
“It was great to see so many people from various religions, ethnicities, and races coming together to protest against the executive order of President Trump and stand against injustice and discrimination,” remarked Firoz Vhora, the Outreach Director of CITCD in Harvey. “This is what democracy looks like.”
“Despite all the bad things Trump has done and is planning to do, Trump has sparked outrage within people against injustice,” says Joe Milbourne, a Muslim law student at DePaul University. “I hope that this outrage will inspire Americans of all faiths, colors, and backgrounds to wake up.”
Lawyers from across the Chicagoland area have been flocking to the airport in droves to support the dozens of immigrants and refugees and their families who are now stuck in transit limbo. CIOGC also recently published a travel warning to help advise community members directly targeted by the ban.
Due to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a federal judge that same day issued a temporary stay on the executive order which prevents the United States from deporting people from nations subjected to the ban who were in transit at the time the executive order was signed.