Hundreds turn out for protest march to State House steps
Hundreds of Boston-area residents converged at the State House yesterday in protest of President Trump’s crackdown on refugees and citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries that has left scores of foreign-born U.S. residents and visa-holders stranded overseas for the next 90 days.
About 800 demonstrators marched from Chinatown to the steps of the State House in a lively protest organized by the Socialist Alternative and other local activist groups, according to police.
Chanting “immigrant rights are human rights,” protesters waving signs reading “Love Has No Borders” and “Protect Our Families” gathered on Boston Common to rail against Trump’s 90-day ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen — and a 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program.
“This country was built by immigrants,” said Fahmina Zaman, 25, of Lowell. “My family is Muslim. Even though I’m not literally an immigrant, it still affects me because my parents are.”
In addition to the worldwide impact of the travel ban, Zaman said she fears Trump will follow through on a proposal to establish a Muslim registry.
“I feel like a lot of people will say he’s not doing the registry,” Zaman said, “but he’s already banned people from seven countries.”
When Trump’s order went into effect yesterday, Lisa Gilinsky of Newton said she felt “shock and disbelief that this was our country.”
“This is the lowest point in our country’s history since the World War II internment camps,” she said.
Kyle Homan, a 26-year-old from Lowell, agreed, saying he took part in the march in protest of what he called an “awful” executive order.
“I’m here to support my friends and family members who are immigrants,” he said. “It’s illegal. It feels like a dystopian future — like something out of the ‘1984’ novel.”