An estimated 600 people demonstrated at Willard Airport near Champaign-Urbana Sunday, joining tens of thousands across the nation who protested in the US protesting President Donald Trump’s executive order, banning travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries. Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert has more.
The group marched and chanted in the cold…. with words like “No Ban, No Wall, No Hate”, and called for Illinois’ 13th District Republican Congressman to respond to Trump’s immigration order.
Those who addressed the crowd include local physician ShamimSadiq. The native of India says she represents the majority of Muslims, who are peace-loving people:
“Don’t distribute more hatred. Keep talking about peace. Keep talking about humanity. Keep talking about that this is not fair. The refugees should be given a fair chance, especially the people who are trying to go through legal channels.” -Shamim Sadiq
The rally came together in a manner of hours… as organizers first proposed the idea on Facebook Saturday night. Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing also addressed the crowd, noting her community is downstate Illinois’ only ‘sanctuary city’. That means the city limits its cooperation with federal authorities in tracking undocumented residents, and faces possible sanctions from the Trump administration.