Late Friday the President of the United States issued an executive order temporarily banning U.S. entry from seven predominately Muslim countries, temporarily suspending nearly all refugee programs and closing the doors to all Syrian refugees indefinitely. The ban is without consideration of an individual’s visa or residence status, and disregards how far along an 18-24 month vetting process a refugee family has already been subjected. Rather, the President has sent his message directly to an entire group of people and indirectly, most believe, to an entire religion. The answer from the U.S. President is no.
The response by ordinary citizens, however, was strikingly different. They came together, with little or no notice, to demonstrate at airports throughout the United States, and they marched in the streets of many cities. Attorneys volunteered their time to assist travelers who were detained by ICE, while immigrants and the children and grand-children of immigrants made their voices heard. Muslims and Jews, black and white, young and old, Iranians and Somalians and Chinese and Irish and… and… all together in one voice, “Immigrants are welcome here.”
Liberty Cries
In Washington they rallied at the front of the White House to make their voices heard to the President… that they will not be led by the fear he sews; that they will not not accept his policies of hate; that they will not judge groups of people of any kind because of the crimes of individuals and that they will honor Lady Liberty by welcoming the world’s tired, poor and huddled masses.
Below, are a few of the images I captured during the demonstration at the White House. Click any photo to open the gallery of larger high-quality images.
Welcome Stranger
Bridges
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Towers, Not Walls
Dissent is Patriotic
Peace
Never Again