This is going to be short and to the point because I am getting ready to head out and wanted to spread the word to other Kossacks in the greater San Francisco Bay Area that all day, today, there will be a continued protest at San Francisco International Airport (International Terminal). They say come anytime; they’ve been there since 3pm yesterday with a few thousand protesters.
- ALL information about the protest today is HERE (you don’t need FB to view it) — RSVP or “share”: www.facebook.com/…
If you want to do one thing to resist Trump today and to fight back against the massively injustice the #MuslimBan has caused, with detainees still being held at SFO, please come.
It has been completely calm and peaceful, with no arrests, people have come with their kids, and security and airport staff are supportive, many being immigrants themselves. Some protesters spent the night last night and are not leaving until the detainees are released. The view for illegal detainees is dim, although the ACLU and NLG have both been on the ground, and the protest hopes to reach critical mass at 12pm today again, although you may absolutely go earlier. People seem to be driving from ALL OVER the Bay Area, North, South, and East, and even as far as Davis or Sacramento to join in. You can park either in short-term or long-term parking, or free at the Millbrae BART station and then take BART over.
If you cannot attend but have other friends who might be interested, PLEASE pass the link (above) to the event along. Also, you can, if you have FB, invite your own friends. You can find out who lives in area by typing, in the FB search bar, “Friends who live in (town name)” and most will come up. Try “San Francisco,” “Oakland,” San Jose,” etc.
From their page today:
A Facebook repost of www.meetup.com/... :
Second verse, same as the first! But a little bit louder and a little bit more AWESOME!
Yesterday, we won a battle. Some of the detainees were released! But not all. So, we return— to ensure ALL the detainees walk free! And we do it peacefully, with love and inclusion, San Francisco style! Cuz that's how we roll!
We will not allow for discrimination against people based solely on their religion or country of origin. This is racist. This is wrong. We will stand and protest! Because we ARE the change we want to see in the world. We are California, and hate is never a California value!
Bring:
* Comfortable clothing (including a jacket-- it may be chilly!) and comfortable shoes
* A FULLY CHARGED mobile phone with the Meetup app on it (If you have any questions, call at 917-974-1138 - DO NOT TEXT.)
* Cough drops/throat drops; we expect to be doing a lot of LOUD talking/shouting— again! Warm up those vocal cords! :)
* A bottle of water, and maybe some food (maybe even some food to share with your fellow protestors, if you can afford it!) Yesterday, we had a specific request for HEALTHY food (like carrots or bananas), so if some of you could bring that, it'd help!
* A SIGN with an appropriate (but not vulgar!) slogan: We suggest "#NotInOurName", "#NeverAgain", "END the #MuslimBan", "STOP the #MuslimBan", or "I STAND WITH MUSLIM TRAVELERS".
* A spare Android and/or iPhone cable, if you happen to have one. USB wall warts would be nice too, or small charged USB batteries/power banks/power bricks. THANK YOU to TSA, DHS and the cops, who have been kind and respectful to us thus far! Let's keep the lovefest going. Ignore the ominous guys with riot gear; as long as we keep it peaceful (and we WILL!), they may end up serving us pizza again. (You didn't hear? The cops served us pizza yesterday!)
Remember: We don't want to cause problems. We protest in the spirit of love, peace, understanding, and inclusion. We're just exercising our Constitutional right to freedom of speech— and we're already having great results! JUST IN CASE, write the number (415) 285-1011 on your hand. This is the Lawyers' Guild hotline number for the Bay Area. If you're arrested (yesterday, I don't believe we had even a single protestor arrested), call them— they can help.
Day two. Let's make our beautiful city proud!
In a constitutional crisis that jeopardizes other wholly innocent human beings, the best thing to do is to object, publicly and loudly, in response, and in a sustained manner. Kamala Harris has made a statement condemning the detentions, but so far, the situation has not improved.
Now I’m off for a bit of a drive on a day when I should be working, but moral imperatives always take precedence over all else, and frankly, I cannot focus when our brothers and sisters throughout the Muslim community are being treated unjustly on the basis of their religion and national origin. Please join us at SFO International today. It’s time to end this and restore America to it’s status of land of the brave, home of the free, from sea to shining sea…
By the way, if you aren’t in area: **please donate to the ACLU.** They have done a lion’s share in helping get the stay last night, but that stay does NOT solve the problem in the long term, and many Customs and Border Patrol agents are, frankly, ignoring the order as they are unsure what to do given that the issuing body (that dude in the Oval Office whose hair smells like pee) is unclear, vindictive, malevolent, non compos mentis, a total a-hole, a Nazi fascist, and also illogically hateful; it is possible that he may also be an actual cyborg. You know, the orange shitgibbon whose pus-covered “I love on my mom’s couch still” sidekick and troll, Bannon, prides himself on comparing himself to Darth Vader, because that’s totally normal.
#ThisIsNotNormal
#NotMyPresident
#resist
Update: the Department of Homeland Security responds saying they aren’t doing anything; like good Germans, they’re going to keep enforcing Trump’s illegal orders (even though ordered by the court not to)
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security will continue to enforce all of President Trump’s Executive Orders in a manner that ensures the safety and security of the American people. President Trump’s Executive Orders remain in place—prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety. President Trump’s Executive Order affects a minor portion of international travelers, and is a first step towards reestablishing control over America's borders and national security.
Approximately 80 million international travelers enter the United States every year. Yesterday, less than one percent of the more than 325,000 international air travelers who arrive every day were inconvenienced while enhanced security measures were implemented. These individuals went through enhanced security screenings and are being processed for entry to the United States, consistent with our immigration laws and judicial orders.
The Department of Homeland Security will faithfully execute the immigration laws, and we will treat all of those we encounter humanely and with professionalism. No foreign national in a foreign land, without ties to the United States, has any unfettered right to demand entry into the United States or to demand immigration benefits in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security will comply with judicial orders; faithfully enforce our immigration laws, and implement President Trump’s Executive Orders to ensure that those entering the United States do not pose a threat to our country or the American people.
We need to turn out even more. Please get the word about the protest out — use your viral powers; we have 700 RSVP’s right now, which is even more than yesterday this many hours before the “formal” protest began. This is ONLY THE BEGINNING. We, the people, cannot be threatened in this way. We will RESIST objectionable and unjust, illegal, and unethical actions like those of Herr Fuhrer Trump. We will let Muslims, and all other people as well, know we are here with open arms for them because that is what America stands for and what AMERICANS stand for.