Thousands in Seattle protest for a second night against Trump’s immigration policies

Thousands of people gathered and marched at Westlake Park Jan. 29, 2017 to protest Trump’s executive orders temporarily banning entrance of people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including U.S. permanent residents and visa holders. (Photo by Chloe Collyer.)

Thousands of people gathered and marched in Westlake Park on Sunday — the second straight night in the Seattle area of protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.

Trump signed an executive order Friday that banned Syrian refugees indefinitely, halted the United States’ refugee program for 120 days and placed a 90-day travel ban on people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. The ban initially included U.S. permanent residents and visa holders.

Speakers at Sunday’s gathering included Gov. Jay Inslee, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and others. The Sunday evening rally was planned for several days, following Trump’s executive order that targeted undocumented immigrants and cities with sanctuary policies.

Other protests were held throughout the state, including one near Peace Arch at the Canadian border and another at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, according to KING 5.

The day of protests came the day after a large demonstration organized on very short notice at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Thousands of people went to Sea-Tac Saturday evening to protest the executive order less than a day after Trump signed it, filling the international arrivals hall. The demonstration echoed similar ones around the country.

After midnight, after most of the crowd had left, some protesters stayed at Sea-Tac to continue the demonstration. Police arrested about 30 people and used pepper spray to disperse the remaining protesters around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, according to The Stranger.

Several travelers were detained at Sea-Tac airport Saturday following the executive order.

After intervention from the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, two of them were released and free to travel on Sunday. According to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s office the two travelers were on visitors visas. One of the travelers was a Sudanese citizen living in the United Arab Emirates and the other is a Yemeni citizen born in Saudi Arabia.

However, Sen. Patty Murray told reporters on Sunday that another traveler who was detained returned to Vienna and was unable to visit his family, according to the Seattle Times.

Donald Trump, being led on a chain through his nose by Vladimir Putin, makes an appearance at Westlake Park Jan. 29, 2017. (Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
Two women join others at Westlake Park Jan. 29, 2017 to protest Trump’s executive orders temporarily banning entrance of people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including U.S. permanent residents and visa holders. (Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
Thousands of people gathered and marched at Westlake Park Jan. 29, 2017 to protest Trump’s executive orders temporarily banning entrance of people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including U.S. permanent residents and visa holders. (Photo by Chloe Collyer.)

 

(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
Thousands of people gathered and marched at Westlake Park Jan. 29, 2017 to protest Trump’s executive orders temporarily banning entrance of people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including U.S. permanent residents and visa holders. (Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)
(Photo by Chloe Collyer.)

1 Comment

  1. The protesters won’t be inclusionary. They protest claiming to fight on and only protest for two days. What about the other responsible people having to work. I want to protest too. This immigration ban struck a cord in me, I will organize another protest that will include me.

Comments are closed.

1 Comment

  1. The protesters won’t be inclusionary. They protest claiming to fight on and only protest for two days. What about the other responsible people having to work. I want to protest too. This immigration ban struck a cord in me, I will organize another protest that will include me.

Comments are closed.