Travelers walking out of the international arrivals gate at Honolulu Airport on Sunday were greeted by a welcoming party of more than 100 demonstrators chanting, “No hate, no fear. Refugees are welcome here.”
The crowd was in response to a recent executive order made by President Donald Trump that banned certain refugees from entering the United States. The demonstration echoed protests at airports across the country. Trump’s executive order included a 90-day ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen and a 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program. Trump’s order singled out Syrians, indefinitely blocking entry for anyone from that country, including those fleeing civil war.
At the protest, initiated by a group called World Can’t Wait, dozens of men and women held signs that said, “No ban! All are welcome” and “Refugees in. Trump out.” A local group called Hawaii J20, formed in response to the Trump administration, also helped organize the event.
“We were just really outraged by Trump’s ban and inspired by the other protests,” said Liz Rees, organizer from World Can’t Wait.
Clare Hanusz, former Hawaii chapter chairwoman of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), said she contacted Customs and Border Protection, and it reported that no one has been detained in Hawaii or sent back.
“We are here to offer assistance,” Hanusz said. “I’m here as someone who is concerned about immigrants’ rights, someone who is concerned about human rights, someone who is concerned about the Constitution and the rule of law, because what is crystal clear is this executive order is both illegal and unconstitutional.”
Hanusz said there were a handful of AILA attorneys at the event offering their assistance to anyone who had been detained or sent back, or family members.
At the same time as the protest Sunday, state Attorney General Doug Chin announced he had joined attorneys general from 15 other states and the District of Columbia in condemning Trump’s executive order banning citizens from seven Muslim countries from entering the U.S. and suspending the admission of all refugees.
“As the chief legal officers for over 130 million Americans and foreign residents of our states, we condemn President Trump’s unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful Executive Order and will work together to ensure the federal government obeys the Constitution, respects our history as a nation of immigrants, and does not unlawfully target anyone because of their national origin or faith,” the group said in a statement. The statement came from state attorneys general from California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Virginia, Oregon, Connecticut, Vermont, Illinois, New Mexico, Iowa, Maine, Rhode Island and Maryland, as well as Washington, D.C.
Multiple federal courts ordered a stay of the executive order.
“We are confident that the Executive Order will ultimately be struck down by the courts. In the meantime, we are committed to working to ensure that as few people as possible suffer from the chaotic situation that it has created,” the group said.
Gov. David Ige said in a statement Sunday, “Hawaii has a proud history as a place immigrants of diverse backgrounds can achieve their dreams through hard work. Many of our people also know all too well the consequences of giving in to fear of newcomers. The remains of the internment camp at Honouliuli are a sad testament to that fear. We must remain true to our values and be vigilant where we see the worst part of history about to be repeated.”
Hawaii Pacific University graduate Ola, 31, came to Hawaii in 2012 from Iraq as a Fulbright scholar.
Currently looking for work after earning her master’s degree, she is worried employers won’t hire her because of the possibility she will be deported. Ola asked the Honolulu Star-Advertiser not to use her full name.
She said she was encouraged by the demonstrators’ support.
“People care,” Ola said about the protest. “Just because you write about it on Facebook doesn’t mean you make a change. I hope to see them here with the people.”
Occasional honks from passing cars overpowered the sign wavers’ chanting.
Palolo resident Akiemi Glenn, 36, decided to go to the event after reading about it on Facebook and receiving texts from friends. Glenn said it is important for demonstrators to feel there is a support system for them.
“One of the reasons why a lot of people are nervous about this is prior experience with law enforcement, feeling marginalized and then coming into certain spaces that are predominately one ethnic group or another one class or another,” she said. “Support each other so that once we do decide to mobilize, you don’t feel like you are going to be the only one there.”
