One of the first actions Donald Trump took when getting into the White House was to sign an executive order banning Muslim refugees from entering the United States. Just a day after the order became law, Iraqi refugees were detained in New York City, leading to an impromptu protest.
Trump protest
Donald Trump has caused constant controversy since the start of his campaign for president. Critics have since labeled the billionaire real estate mogul a "racist," "prejudice," "xenophobe," and an "Islamaphobe" due to his controversial proposals. Trump's hard-line stance in regards to preventing the spread of Islamic terrorism has resulted in serious backlash from his critics, which has only increased over the last 48 hours.
On Friday, Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq and Hameed Khalid Darweesh, two Iraqi refugees, were detained at Kennedy International Airport. In response, as reported by PIX 11 in New York on January 28, protests broke out.
Protesters gather at JFK Airport's Terminal 4 after refugees detained following Trump's immigration ban https://t.co/d470isufl1 pic.twitter.com/ACKp5XdBUW
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) January 28, 2017
After Abdulkhaleq and Darweesh were detained at JFK airport, they quickly contacted the American Civil Liberty Union (ALCU) and filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his administration over the executive order. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance and the AFT Union sent out statements to show their support for the protests, which continued to grow during the day on Saturday.
According to AFT Union, an additional protest is planned for 6 p.m. local time at the airport, to be taking place at Terminal 4.
One free! JFK Terminal 4 NOW #NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/WMktv9lUdq
— MaketheRoadNewYork (@MaketheRoadNY) January 28, 2017
Protesters outside #jfk chanting "let them out" #NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/ORtdlmzzxS
— NYIC (@thenyic) January 28, 2017
Moore responds
Filmmaker Michael Moore has been one of the most vocal critics of Donald Trump, and within minutes of the news of the JFK airport protest, he expressed his support on Twitter.
"Everybody in NYC area-- head to JFK Terminal 4 NOW! Big anti-Trump protest forming out of nowhere!" Moore tweeted out on Saturday afternoon, before adding, "Ppl mobilizing against Trump's Muslim ban."
Everybody in NYC area-- head to JFK Terminal 4 NOW! Big anti-Trump protest forming out of nowhere! Ppl mobilizing against Trump's Muslim ban
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 28, 2017
Despite the backlash, Donald Trump has not yet issued a public respond to the criticism, though he's not expected to walk-back any of his decisions. As the United States, and the world, wonder what the former host of "The Apprentice" will do next, only time will tell how it will impact the American people.
