Terminal 4 in the John F. Kennedy International airport in New York City was overrun by protesters on Saturday demanding the release of two Iraqis who were detained after President Trump's executive order on immigration. The presidential action bans refugees from seven Middle Eastern and African nations, including the indefinite suspension of refugees from Syria.
Cheers of "Let them in" follow the unraveling of this sign. Police just made them take it down. #muslimban #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/VfVWphgwl6
— kristina monllos (@kristinamonllos) January 28, 2017
"Let them in!" Current scene at #JFKTerminal4 #NoBanNoWall #RefugeesWelcome #ResistTrump pic.twitter.com/ukcLhkWI9s
— L.A. Kauffman (@LAKauffman) January 28, 2017
Other protest groups outside of the airport began separate chants of "The ban - it's a sham!"
Democratic congressmen like Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) showed up in solidarity with the demonstrators. Eventually, one detainee, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, who worked for the U.S. government in Iraq for a decade, was released. He thanked his supporters for their effort and noted America was still "the land of freedom."