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Jan 29, 17

#NoBanNoWall: A Report Back From Chicago’s Protest of Trump’s #MuslimBan

Submitted to It’s Going Down

As thousands converged on JFK Airport to stand with immigrants being detained by Trump’s Muslim Ban, the Arab American Action Network put out a call for people to come to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and do the same. Train after train rolled into O’Hare, but last night, the passengers were carrying signs instead of luggage. In just two hours, more than two thousand people had united at O’Hare’s international terminal to make clear that Chicago won’t stand for Trump’s bigotry and declare that immigrants are welcome here.

Initially beginning on the sidewalk outside Terminal 5, the protest quickly spilled out into the street blocking all traffic at the terminal for over four hours. (Keep in mind that O’Hare is one of the top five busiest airports in the world.) Demonstrators also filled the inside of the airport, where a team of lawyers was huddled over laptops, phones, law books, and fast food trying to get those being detained released. At the height of the demonstration, thousands began marching out of the airport and toward the highway. Police quickly threatened arrests and federal charges if people did not passed their line or failed to clear the road. More than one hundred people spontaneously locked arms, blocking the police from the crowd of thousands. During the standoff, Chicago Police tried to get the Chicago Transit Authority to cut of access to the airport by making trains stop at an earlier station a mile away. CTA did ultimately use a 20 minute delay on trains to slow down the arrival of reinforcements.

Police vehicles and personnel started assembling on the highway in preparation for a mass arrest. Demonstrators sat in the street. As tension continued to mount, someone managed to hoist a Palestinian flag up one of the flagpoles outside the airport. During this stand-off, news came in that the attorneys for the detainees had won a stay on Trump’s executive order. Before midnight, everyone being detained inside O’Hare airport had been released.

The solidarity last night was palpable As I was leaving, a call and response chant of “show me what Chicago looks like,” and “This is what Chicago looks like” echoed through Terminal 5. In one week, we have made it abundantly clear that we will not tolerate Trump’s hate and will instead mobilize at a moment’s notice to protect each other. The Right has taken a liking to referring to us as snowflakes; while intended to be insulting, it’s actually an apt description: we are many, we are unique, and when we come together, you get an unstoppable blizzard.

A few months ago, many people thought Trump’s election was unthinkable. Now, we are proving that his downfall is inevitable. Last night’s legal victory was an important temporary win, we must remain vigilant and ready to stand with immigrant communities.

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