Jun 21, 2018
If President Donald Trump thought his sham executive order would put an end to mass grassroots outrage over his unspeakably cruel anti-immigrant agenda, he was sorely mistaken.
"They think it's over, that we'll pipe down and go away. It's not over, it's just getting started."
--Metro D.C. Democratic Socialist of America
As hundreds of immigrant children forcibly separated from their families arrived on flights to New York City from Texas Wednesday night, massive demonstrations kicked off both inside and outside LaGuardia Airport showing solidarity with the young children and demanding that the Trump administration immediately reunite them with their loved ones, who are detained thousands of miles away.
"We want to let them know that there are thousands of people who see them, who love them, and who will fight for them," Stosh Cotler, one of the organizers of the rally and CEO of Bend the Arc--an advocacy group that works on a wide range of issues, including immigrant rights--said in a statement.
\u201cTerminals are packed with HUNDREDS of NYers who showed up in solidarity for children, with messages of love, singing in Spanish, \u201cCielito Lindo\u201d.\n\n#FamiliesBelongTogether\n#FreedomForImmigrants\n#AbolishICE\u201d— Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b (@Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b) 1529560455
\u201cHappening NOW at LaGuardia Airport in NYC: citizens gathering to greet kids separated from their parents by the Trump administration #FamiliesBelongTogether #FreedomforImmigrants\u201d— ACLU (@ACLU) 1529554014
\u201c\u201cThis is what solidarity looks like.\u201d Right now at LaGuardia. Our tax dollars have funded the terrorization of families seeking refuge. Let\u2019s keep showing up people #FamilesBelongTogether\u201d— Baratunde (@Baratunde) 1529554836
The protests at LaGuardia, which continued into the early hours of Thursday morning, closed with chants of "I believe that we will win!"
\u201cPOWERFUL closing at LGA Term C: 100s chant \u201cI believe that we will win!\u201d Crowd rededicates itself to showing up for immigrant children, family members, and community members WHEREVER and WHENEVER. #FreedomForImmigrants #FamiliesBelongTogether CC: @UNITEDWEDREAM @MaketheRoadNY\u201d— Daniel Altschuler \ud83e\udd8b (@Daniel Altschuler \ud83e\udd8b) 1529561971
The rapid-response demonstration against Trump's family separation practice came amid reports that the administration is quietly transferring young immigrant children to New York "in waves," without the knowledge of state officials.
Make the Road New York, an immigrant rights group that has been organizing against Trump's anti-immigrant agenda, sent out a "red alert" late Wednesday calling on everyone in New York City to rush to LaGuardia to "witness where the children are being taken" and show that they have the unwavering support of the community.
\u201c*URGENT* Children who\u2019ve been separated from their families (detained miles away) are on flights arriving at La Guardia Airport TONIGHT. People needed to witness where the children are being taken. If you\u2019re in NY come to LGA now-We\u2019re here! #KeepFamliesTogether #MoralEmergency\u201d— Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b (@Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b) 1529546871
After Trump signed his executive order Wednesday afternoon, Kenneth Wolfe, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the White House has absolutely no plans to reunite the more than 2,300 children who have been torn from their families and detained as their parents are criminally prosecuted for seeking refuge from violence and persecution in their home countries.
"In response to the overwhelming public outrage at his policy of tearing children away from their parents at the border, this administration thinks the appropriate response is to indefinitely detain families."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
While another HHS spokesperson later slightly walked back Wolfe's statement--saying the department is "awaiting further guidance" from Trump on reunification--the administration has shown little concern for the plight of the thousands of immigrant children it has traumatized with its cruel policy.
In addition to leaving thousands of children detained or in foster care facilities as their parents are prosecuted for crossing the border illegally, Trump's executive order merely trades "one form of child abuse for another" by demanding mass family detention.
"In response to the overwhelming public outrage at his policy of tearing children away from their parents at the border, this administration thinks the appropriate response is to indefinitely detain families," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement on Wednesday. "This executive order is an affront to our moral values and runs afoul of our nation's laws."
Reacting to Trump's order on Wednesday, the Metro D.C. branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)--which put pressure on the White House late Tuesday by publicly shaming Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson as she attempted to dine at a Mexican restaurant--vowed to keep fighting the administration's xenophobic policies.
"They think it's over, that we'll pipe down and go away," Metro D.C. DSA wrote on Twitter after Trump signed his directive. "It's not over, it's just getting started."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
If President Donald Trump thought his sham executive order would put an end to mass grassroots outrage over his unspeakably cruel anti-immigrant agenda, he was sorely mistaken.
"They think it's over, that we'll pipe down and go away. It's not over, it's just getting started."
--Metro D.C. Democratic Socialist of America
As hundreds of immigrant children forcibly separated from their families arrived on flights to New York City from Texas Wednesday night, massive demonstrations kicked off both inside and outside LaGuardia Airport showing solidarity with the young children and demanding that the Trump administration immediately reunite them with their loved ones, who are detained thousands of miles away.
"We want to let them know that there are thousands of people who see them, who love them, and who will fight for them," Stosh Cotler, one of the organizers of the rally and CEO of Bend the Arc--an advocacy group that works on a wide range of issues, including immigrant rights--said in a statement.
\u201cTerminals are packed with HUNDREDS of NYers who showed up in solidarity for children, with messages of love, singing in Spanish, \u201cCielito Lindo\u201d.\n\n#FamiliesBelongTogether\n#FreedomForImmigrants\n#AbolishICE\u201d— Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b (@Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b) 1529560455
\u201cHappening NOW at LaGuardia Airport in NYC: citizens gathering to greet kids separated from their parents by the Trump administration #FamiliesBelongTogether #FreedomforImmigrants\u201d— ACLU (@ACLU) 1529554014
\u201c\u201cThis is what solidarity looks like.\u201d Right now at LaGuardia. Our tax dollars have funded the terrorization of families seeking refuge. Let\u2019s keep showing up people #FamilesBelongTogether\u201d— Baratunde (@Baratunde) 1529554836
The protests at LaGuardia, which continued into the early hours of Thursday morning, closed with chants of "I believe that we will win!"
\u201cPOWERFUL closing at LGA Term C: 100s chant \u201cI believe that we will win!\u201d Crowd rededicates itself to showing up for immigrant children, family members, and community members WHEREVER and WHENEVER. #FreedomForImmigrants #FamiliesBelongTogether CC: @UNITEDWEDREAM @MaketheRoadNY\u201d— Daniel Altschuler \ud83e\udd8b (@Daniel Altschuler \ud83e\udd8b) 1529561971
The rapid-response demonstration against Trump's family separation practice came amid reports that the administration is quietly transferring young immigrant children to New York "in waves," without the knowledge of state officials.
Make the Road New York, an immigrant rights group that has been organizing against Trump's anti-immigrant agenda, sent out a "red alert" late Wednesday calling on everyone in New York City to rush to LaGuardia to "witness where the children are being taken" and show that they have the unwavering support of the community.
\u201c*URGENT* Children who\u2019ve been separated from their families (detained miles away) are on flights arriving at La Guardia Airport TONIGHT. People needed to witness where the children are being taken. If you\u2019re in NY come to LGA now-We\u2019re here! #KeepFamliesTogether #MoralEmergency\u201d— Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b (@Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b) 1529546871
After Trump signed his executive order Wednesday afternoon, Kenneth Wolfe, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the White House has absolutely no plans to reunite the more than 2,300 children who have been torn from their families and detained as their parents are criminally prosecuted for seeking refuge from violence and persecution in their home countries.
"In response to the overwhelming public outrage at his policy of tearing children away from their parents at the border, this administration thinks the appropriate response is to indefinitely detain families."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
While another HHS spokesperson later slightly walked back Wolfe's statement--saying the department is "awaiting further guidance" from Trump on reunification--the administration has shown little concern for the plight of the thousands of immigrant children it has traumatized with its cruel policy.
In addition to leaving thousands of children detained or in foster care facilities as their parents are prosecuted for crossing the border illegally, Trump's executive order merely trades "one form of child abuse for another" by demanding mass family detention.
"In response to the overwhelming public outrage at his policy of tearing children away from their parents at the border, this administration thinks the appropriate response is to indefinitely detain families," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement on Wednesday. "This executive order is an affront to our moral values and runs afoul of our nation's laws."
Reacting to Trump's order on Wednesday, the Metro D.C. branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)--which put pressure on the White House late Tuesday by publicly shaming Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson as she attempted to dine at a Mexican restaurant--vowed to keep fighting the administration's xenophobic policies.
"They think it's over, that we'll pipe down and go away," Metro D.C. DSA wrote on Twitter after Trump signed his directive. "It's not over, it's just getting started."
If President Donald Trump thought his sham executive order would put an end to mass grassroots outrage over his unspeakably cruel anti-immigrant agenda, he was sorely mistaken.
"They think it's over, that we'll pipe down and go away. It's not over, it's just getting started."
--Metro D.C. Democratic Socialist of America
As hundreds of immigrant children forcibly separated from their families arrived on flights to New York City from Texas Wednesday night, massive demonstrations kicked off both inside and outside LaGuardia Airport showing solidarity with the young children and demanding that the Trump administration immediately reunite them with their loved ones, who are detained thousands of miles away.
"We want to let them know that there are thousands of people who see them, who love them, and who will fight for them," Stosh Cotler, one of the organizers of the rally and CEO of Bend the Arc--an advocacy group that works on a wide range of issues, including immigrant rights--said in a statement.
\u201cTerminals are packed with HUNDREDS of NYers who showed up in solidarity for children, with messages of love, singing in Spanish, \u201cCielito Lindo\u201d.\n\n#FamiliesBelongTogether\n#FreedomForImmigrants\n#AbolishICE\u201d— Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b (@Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b) 1529560455
\u201cHappening NOW at LaGuardia Airport in NYC: citizens gathering to greet kids separated from their parents by the Trump administration #FamiliesBelongTogether #FreedomforImmigrants\u201d— ACLU (@ACLU) 1529554014
\u201c\u201cThis is what solidarity looks like.\u201d Right now at LaGuardia. Our tax dollars have funded the terrorization of families seeking refuge. Let\u2019s keep showing up people #FamilesBelongTogether\u201d— Baratunde (@Baratunde) 1529554836
The protests at LaGuardia, which continued into the early hours of Thursday morning, closed with chants of "I believe that we will win!"
\u201cPOWERFUL closing at LGA Term C: 100s chant \u201cI believe that we will win!\u201d Crowd rededicates itself to showing up for immigrant children, family members, and community members WHEREVER and WHENEVER. #FreedomForImmigrants #FamiliesBelongTogether CC: @UNITEDWEDREAM @MaketheRoadNY\u201d— Daniel Altschuler \ud83e\udd8b (@Daniel Altschuler \ud83e\udd8b) 1529561971
The rapid-response demonstration against Trump's family separation practice came amid reports that the administration is quietly transferring young immigrant children to New York "in waves," without the knowledge of state officials.
Make the Road New York, an immigrant rights group that has been organizing against Trump's anti-immigrant agenda, sent out a "red alert" late Wednesday calling on everyone in New York City to rush to LaGuardia to "witness where the children are being taken" and show that they have the unwavering support of the community.
\u201c*URGENT* Children who\u2019ve been separated from their families (detained miles away) are on flights arriving at La Guardia Airport TONIGHT. People needed to witness where the children are being taken. If you\u2019re in NY come to LGA now-We\u2019re here! #KeepFamliesTogether #MoralEmergency\u201d— Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b (@Make the Road NY \ud83e\udd8b) 1529546871
After Trump signed his executive order Wednesday afternoon, Kenneth Wolfe, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the White House has absolutely no plans to reunite the more than 2,300 children who have been torn from their families and detained as their parents are criminally prosecuted for seeking refuge from violence and persecution in their home countries.
"In response to the overwhelming public outrage at his policy of tearing children away from their parents at the border, this administration thinks the appropriate response is to indefinitely detain families."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
While another HHS spokesperson later slightly walked back Wolfe's statement--saying the department is "awaiting further guidance" from Trump on reunification--the administration has shown little concern for the plight of the thousands of immigrant children it has traumatized with its cruel policy.
In addition to leaving thousands of children detained or in foster care facilities as their parents are prosecuted for crossing the border illegally, Trump's executive order merely trades "one form of child abuse for another" by demanding mass family detention.
"In response to the overwhelming public outrage at his policy of tearing children away from their parents at the border, this administration thinks the appropriate response is to indefinitely detain families," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement on Wednesday. "This executive order is an affront to our moral values and runs afoul of our nation's laws."
Reacting to Trump's order on Wednesday, the Metro D.C. branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)--which put pressure on the White House late Tuesday by publicly shaming Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson as she attempted to dine at a Mexican restaurant--vowed to keep fighting the administration's xenophobic policies.
"They think it's over, that we'll pipe down and go away," Metro D.C. DSA wrote on Twitter after Trump signed his directive. "It's not over, it's just getting started."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.