Americans Rally against Trump’s Travel Ban
Local Editor
Muslim Americans planned to gather in the nation's capital to protest US President Donald Trump's latest travel ban on Wednesday, the day it was scheduled to go into effect.
But late Tuesday, a federal judge in Hawaii blocked its implementation, saying that it "plainly discriminates based on nationality." A federal judge in Maryland early Wednesday issued a second halt to portions of the ban.
Protesters briefly celebrated and then took to the streets Wednesday afternoon to demonstrate as planned. The ban didn't go into effect, but protesters said the fight is far from over.
The group gathered near the White House before marching to Trump International Hotel and the US Customs and Border Protection headquarters, shutting down Pennsylvania Avenue.
"The news of [Tuesday] was obviously exciting. It's a victory, but it's not the battle," said Isra Chaker, a campaign adviser at the nonprofit Oxfam America, which was part of a coalition that organized the protest.
"We need to be able to keep the energy high and voice our disapproval of whatever version of the Muslim ban this administration comes up with."
The White House defended its ban Tuesday and decried the Hawaii judge's ruling as "dangerously flawed."
"These restrictions are vital to ensuring that foreign nations comply with the minimum security standards required for the integrity of our immigration system and the security of our nation," the White House said in a statement.
Protesters, many from New York and the Washington suburbs, carried American flags and signs that read "We Muslims Love America" and "Build a Wall Around Trump." They chanted "No hate, no fear, Muslims are welcome here," and "This is what America looks like."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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