January 26th marked the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s first executive order on immigration, which included a ban on travel for residents from several Muslim-majority countries. Demonstrators and protesters came together all over the country, including New York City where more than 100 interfaith demonstrators gathered in the city’s Washington Square Park and formed a human chain of protection around their Muslim friends and peers as they knelt down in the public space for Friday prayers. “It’s practically important and symbolically important to stand with people of different faith traditions,” said Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, executive director of the Interfaith Center of New York. “It’s what we should do as Americans.”
Tamara Ilias, a Syrian refugee who spoke at the rally, said she was shocked when she first heard about the travel ban. After fleeing civil war in Syria, she lived in Lebanon for a year with her family but her children were not allowed to attend school due to the governments restrictions. With the help of Catholic Charities’ refugee resettlement program, Ilias and her family were able to resettle in New York last Spring. “There are many people like me,” said Ms. Ilias. “I’m lucky, I’m here. But many people are waiting, many people need help. Many people have families, have kids. It’s not easy, it’s so hard.”
