Hundreds gather at Supreme Court to protest decision to uphold travel ban
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Hundreds gathered at the U.S. Supreme Court to protest the travel ban once the decision was announced to uphold the president’s policy.
In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled the president does have the authority under immigration laws to decide who may and who may night come to the United States. President Trump says the travel ban is necessary for national security.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling, just coming out," Trump said. "A tremendous success, a tremendous victory for the American people."
The third iteration of the travel ban includes seven countries, five of which have a Muslim-majority population. Protesters rallied near the steps of the Supreme Court and said the decision is wrong.
“I am really angry at this decision because this is a racist decision and targeting Muslim countries for this, this is unacceptable,” District resident Fareeha Shamim said.
Said District resident Wardah Khalid, “I’m feeling a plethora of emotions right now. Probably most overwhelmingly I’m feeling disappointed, sad, angry."
Protesters chanted, “No ban, no wall!”
“There should be no discrimination," Baldev Singh said. "One of the things that America is known for worldwide is because of diversity and the contributions that immigrants make to our society."
Singh works for the Sikh American Legal Defense and is an immigrant. He stood silent holding a poster at the Supreme Court.
“We feel for our Muslim brothers and sister. I’ve also been an immigrant before," he said. "And I’ve been bestowed my rights and I’ve been bestowed the privilege of being an American citizen and it’s something that I value very greatly in my life. I think that’s an opportunity that every Muslim brother and sister should have."
The nation’s highest court said the president has the “extraordinary power” to speak to the people and on behalf of them. Lawmakers, advocacy groups and individual district residents said they will continue to speak out until the ban is reversed.
“This decision doesn’t represent who we are as people," said Noah Gottschalk with Oxfam America. "We’re not going to stand for it. We are going to continue to fight against this ban until we see American values supported."
