Hundreds of people gathered at the Indianapolis International Airport on Jan. 29 to protest President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration. The diverse crowed chanted “Refugees are welcome here,” while holding signs with declarations such as “Give me your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free”; “Jesus was a refugee”; and “Build bridges, not walls.” This protest was one of many that took place at airports across the country.
On Jan. 26, Trump issued an executive order to prevent citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries (Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq) from entering the U.S. for 90 days. The order also prohibits refugees from being admitted into the U.S. for 120 days and puts a preference on Christian refugees over Muslims. There have also been reports of green card-holding U.S. residents being turned away from U.S.-bound flights.
Opponents of the order believe it is in violation of the United States Constitution, and U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly blocked a significant portion of the ban because she felt it violated the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. In addition, the preference for Christians over Muslims has many questioning how this ban plays into the First Amendment’s stance on freedom of religion. Opponents have also noted that the order seems to overlook countries Trump has business ties with, such as Saudi Arabia, despite those countries’ histories of terrorism.
Many local community leaders were present at the Indy airport protest, including author John Green, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly and religious leaders including Rabbi Scott Fox and Derrick Slack, youth pastor at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.
Imam Michael Saahir, from Nur-Allah Islamic Center, attended the protest and said he feels the order threatens his religious freedom.
“(Trump) is trying to camouflage it to say it’s not a Muslim ban, but to have massive crowds and spontaneous responses at airports around the country shows that people are not buying these charades. Freedom of religion is part of the founding of our country. No laws should be made to restrict, violate or take away from a person’s faith,” said Saahir.
Saahir also worries the Muslim ban will backfire and create more terrorists.
“With bad policy and the mistreatment of people, Trump is giving them fuel for the fire to build more terrorists. It is what terrorists actually want to be done. If someone is moderate, sane and decent-minded, but they feel you have attacked them, you trigger something in them to say, ‘I’m not patient any more,’” said Saahir.
Congressman Andre Carson, who represents Indiana’s 7th congressional district and is the second Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress, also attended the protest at the airport.
“This ban does nothing to block terrorists, but it risks blocking Muslims. I think ISIS is like any organization that claims to be religious but has ill intent; they prey on people who are vulnerable and living in poverty and use them for their own agenda and to spread a doctrine of hate. Now they are saying, ‘Come to us. America doesn’t want you and your own country doesn’t want you,’” said Carson.
In addition to community leaders, everyday citizens came out to show solidarity with the Muslim community. Among the crowd was Danielle Badgett, a resident hall director at Ball State University. When she and a friend arrived at the airport, the parking garage was full, so they headed to economy parking and hopped onto a shuttle bus.
“The entire bus was full of protesters. Everyone was talking and hugging and reading each other’s signs. There was this strong feeling of camaraderie and unity between people of all races and religions. There was a woman in a hijab on the bus, and she was not there for the protest, but she was quietly watching and smiling, and I was thinking, this is why we are here.”
Carson says his heart was warmed by the way the community came together to show support.
“Christians, members of the Jewish community, Buddhists, non-religious people, Black, white, Democrat, Republican, rich and poor joined hands and said this is un-American and we are not going to stand for it. There are people trying to divide us, but it didn’t work.
“In the African-American community, where there has been a history of discrimination, it certainly wouldn’t work. We know one day it is Muslims, the next day it’s the Christian faith, the next day it’s the Jewish community. This is what history has shown us, so no one should feel comfortable thinking they won’t be attacked.”
Badgett hopes the Black community will get involved in fighting for the rights of immigrants.
“Black people are very vocal when it comes to Black issues, and we get mad at white people when they are silent about our issues, but sometimes we are just as guilty,” she said. “As humans, we have a responsibility to each other to fight for each other’s rights, so that’s why I came out. I believe injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
