Protest Planned At Philly International In Opposition To Trump's Immigration Ban
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Thousands of protesters are expected to crowd Philadelphia International Airport Sunday to speak out against the president's temporary ban on refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The protest and rally are being organized by a growing list of more than 30 organizations, including the Council on American–Islamic Relations, Black Lives Matter Pennsylvania, Power and a number of others.
Elected officials and individuals from the Muslim community will speak out in an effort to express the growing frustration and fear stemming from President Donald Trump's executive order - and the turning away of scores of refugees.
Part of order has been temporarily stayed by a federal judge in New York after the ACLU filed a lawsuit. But the fight is not over. Civil rights lawyers are seeking guidance from federal court Sunday.
The protests are scheduled to take place outside of Terminal A West Sunday afternoon.
All of this comes less than 24 hours after more than 200 people jammed into International Hall at the airport to protest the detainment of at least five individuals.
At least two of the detainees have since been released from the airport, Mayor Jim Kenney confirmed in a statement on Sunday morning.
"I am so grateful to all those who worked to see these two new Americans released and reunited with their families, namely the ACLU, the International Refugee Assistance Project, volunteer lawyers, the Philadelphians who demonstrated peacefully last night, Senator Casey, Governor Wolf, Congressman Brady, Congressman Evans, State Rep Brian Sims, State Rep Jordan Harris and Councilwoman Helen Gym. I also thank our other congressional colleagues Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Charlie Dent and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for their vocal opposition to this unconstitutional order. While we will have to continue to work to see this order completely defeated, this is an important victory against hate.
We're proud to announce that in addition to the release of anyone detained at the airport yesterday afternoon, all new passengers arriving today will be treated the same as they would have been prior to the executive order."
