Refugees

We Want To Welcome! Barcelona Demands Open Borders For Refugees

February 25, 2017 Carlos Delclós, www.roarmag.org Create! Barcelona, Border, Border-free, Refugees

By Carlos Delclós for ROAR Magazine - On February 18, over 160.000 people took to the streets of Barcelona to demand that the Spanish government and the European Union accept more refugees. The build-up to the protests was spectacular, with the city and Catalan regional governments working together with broad citizen platforms to put the phrase “We want to welcome” (Volem acollir) on everybody’s lips. For several weeks, leading politicians including Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and Catalan president Carles Puigdemont lambasted Spain’s current policies towards refugees. One week prior to the protest, a special concert was organized by a campaign called Casa nostra, Casa vostra (“Our house, your house”), not in a civic center or public square but in an Olympic stadium. The event was aired on Catalan public television and featured major Catalan artists and cultural figures.

Activists Hang ‘Refugees Welcome’ Banner From Statue Of Liberty

February 23, 2017 Nadia Prupis, www.mintpressnews.com Resist! Protest Demonstrations, Refugees

By Nadia Prupis for Mint Press News - (REPORT) — Activists scaled the base of the Statue of Liberty on Tuesday to unfurl a massive banner reading “Refugees Welcome” across the observation deck. The 20-foot red-and-white banner was up from roughly 12:45pm to just before 4:00pm, when the National Park Service tore it down. In an email to local media, the collective of activists, which calls itself Alt Lady Liberty, said they were “just private citizens who felt like we needed to say something about the America we believe in.” One organizer added, “Speaking personally—my grandparents met in a refugee camp after WWII, and my mother immigrated. So this touches close to home. But almost every American knows an immigrant or a refugee. We wanted to send a reminder about America when we’re at our best—the country that’s a beacon of freedom to the world, built by immigrants. Walling off countries or entire religions is against our values.”

Trump’s Executive Order On Refugees Violates The Establishment Clause

January 31, 2017 David Cole, www.justsecurity.org Educate! Donald Trump, Executive Order, Refugees

By David Cole for Just Security - According to the Supreme Court, “the clearest command of the Establishment Clause is that one religious denomination cannot be officially preferred over another.” Larson v. Valente, 456 US. 228, 244 (1982). But that command is apparently not clear enough for President Donald Trump. On Friday he signed an Executive Order on refugees that imposes a selective ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, and at the same time establishes preferential treatment for refugees seeking asylum who are identified with “minority religions” in their country of origin. In case there was any doubt about the latter provision’s intent, Trump told Christian Broadcast News that it was intended to give priority to “Christians” seeking asylum over “Muslims.”

Facts Show Refugees Almost Never Involved In Terrorism

January 30, 2017 Beenish Ahmed and Dylan Petrohilos, www.thinkprogress.org Educate! Refugees, Terrorism

By Beenish Ahmed and Dylan Petrohilos for Think Progress - Governors from more than half of country are attempting to block refugees fleeing conflict in Syria from being settled in their states citing concerns that they might carry out terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Experts familiar with the issue say their fears are largely unfounded. Evidence collected so far suggests that refugees were not involved in carrying out the gun and bomb attacks on the French capital. While hundreds of thousands of migrants have turned up on European shores in the last several months seeking asylum, the U.S. refugee resettlement program vets each person it admits through rigorous background checks that have a nearly flawless record at keeping terrorists out.

The People And Courts Stop Muslim Immigration Ban

January 29, 2017 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Donald Trump, Immigrant Rights, Immigration, Migrants, Refugees

By Kevin Zeese for Popular Resistance. Protests at airports across the country sprung up like a brush fire in reaction to Donald Trump ban on travel from certain Muslim-majority countries. And, courts in multiple states issued emergency orders initially to stop deportations but ultimately to block detentions of people traveling to the United States from this countries. Courts issued rulings in New York, Virginia, Massachusetts and Washington State. Now, there is a nationwide stay preventing deportations and detentions. This morning Donald Trump tweeted that "Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world — a horrible mess!" Before noon, the White House changed its tune reversing itself and saying green card holders will not be barred but added confusion saying border agents would have "discretionary authority" to detain people and that there would be increased scrutiny of everyone, including US citizens, coming from the seven countries.

Trump’s Immigration Order Challenged And Protested Immediately

January 28, 2017 Kevin Zeese, http://www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Immigrant Rights, Immigration, Refugees

By Kevin Zeese for Popular Resistance. President Donald Trump's executive order blocking immigration from specified Muslim-dominated countries took hold and impacted people almost immediately. The order includes people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and bans citizens of these seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for at least 90 days. President Trump's Muslim ban excludes countries linked to his international business empire, i.e. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Turkey, where Trump holds multi-million dollar licensing and development deals. The order prevents entry of any refugees to the U.S. for four months. There was an immediate reaction to the ban. People were at airports to support those being held at airports when they came off of an airplane. In addition, lawsuits were being filed to support them and overturn the Trump ban.

In The Footsteps Of Refugees: Berlin-Aleppo Peace March Begins

December 29, 2016 Staff, www.euronews.com Resist! Aleppo, Berlin, March, Peace, Refugees

By Staff of Euro News - Hundreds of activists set off from Berlin on Monday on a three and a half month march to Aleppo to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Before setting off, Caspar explained why he was taking part: “It’s Christmas and it is nice to spend time with family, but we also have to raise awareness that in other parts of the world people are struggling and that we could do something to make their lives better.” Jaber, who is Syrian, was also passionate about the march, saying: “This affects me personally. The march and the people are here to express their humanity and I want to contribute to it.

Young French Immigrants Begin Solidarity Chain To Feed Refugees

October 12, 2016 Staff, www.telesurtv.net Create! Europe, France, Refugees

By Staff for Tele Sur - “We also are children of immigrants, we grew up in poverty, the principle of sharing is part of who we are,” said Souleymane. A video inviting young residents of Paris' immigrant suburbs to give free meals to homeless refugees went viral on Facebook, reaching over 50,000 views by Monday. “We also are children of immigrants, we grew up in poverty, the principle of sharing is part of who we are,” said Souleymane, a resident of the Sarcelles suburb where the project began.

One Out Of Every 200 Children Is Now A Refugee

September 8, 2016 Nika Knight, www.commondreams.org Educate! Children, Refugees

By Nika Knight for Common Dreams - "What can the future hold for these children—denied so much of what they need?" —Anthony Lake, UNICEFThe total number of child refugees doubled between 2005 and 2015, the report says, and children now comprise half of all refugees despite accounting for less than a third of the global population. The report, "Uprooted: The Growing Crisis for Refugee and Migrant Children," (pdf) presents "for the first time, comprehensive, global data about these children," UNICEF writes.

‘Blockupy’ Protesters Descend On Berlin

September 5, 2016 Staff, www.dw.com Resist! Anti-Austerity, Banks, Blockupy, Germany, Refugees

By Staff for DW. "Blockupy" is back, demonstrating against austerity, consumerism, and the plight of refugees in Germany. Supporters could be seen all over Berlin demanding a more egalitarian approach to integration and economic policy. Anti-capitalism protesters of the "Blockupy" movement took to the streets of Berlin on Friday to protest the policies of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Although there were 50 arrests and a brief scuffle in which some demonstrators threw rocks at officers, authorities categorized the atmosphere as largely calm. The collective has its origins in Frankfurt in 2012, where protesters began to gather regularly outside the European Central Bank (ECB) and takes its name from the Occupy movement that took place on New York City's Wall Street.

Refugees Mount Hunger Strike And March To Protest Closed Borders

August 5, 2016 Sarah Freeman-Woolpert, www.facebook.com Resist! Hunger Strikes, Protests, Refugees

By Sarah Freeman-Woolpert for Waging Nonviolence - A seven-day hunger strike organized by refugees along the Serbian-Hungarian border came to an end last Friday, when the strikers were disbanded by authorities. Many wore silver duct tape over their mouths, while holding signs that said “Fleeing war is no crime,” “Stop wars if you want to stop refugees,” and “Prove that humanity is still alive.” At least 12 required medical attention after refusing food, blankets and tents from humanitarian agencies. The demonstration — which began on July 22 by mostly young men from Afghanistan and Pakistan — reached around 300 people at its height, but was down to 60 men by the end of the week.

Lessons in Activism: Middle School Students Advocate For Syrian Refugees

July 29, 2016 Carolina Drake, www.truth-out.org Resist! Activism, Refugees, Syria

By Carolina Drake for Truthout - On the last day before spring break at Manhattan Country School, a progressive school in New York City, the 7th and 8th graders were busy at work with their activism campaign, "Build Bridges, Not Borders." In one classroom, a group of students gathered near the phone, waiting for their turn to call Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office to encourage the resettlement of Syrian refugees in New York. In another room, students practiced their talking points and arguments in anticipation of their lobbying trip to Washington, DC, where they would ask congressional representatives to oppose bills that would block the refugee resettlement process

Teachers Protest Deportations, Detention Of Refugee Students

July 8, 2016 Kevin Gosztola, www.shadowproof.com Resist! Barack Obama, Deportations, Detention Centers, Hillary Clinton, Immigration, Refugees

By Kevin Gosztola for Shadow Proof - It was the first presidential campaign event in which Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama appeared together. The Charlotte Observer ran a headline that suggested Clinton found her “roar” during the event in Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite the momentous occasion, teachers and students were there to protest Obama’s record on deportations and demand Clinton and Obama release refugee youth, who are currently jailed by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE).

Report Shows How War Profiteers Are Now Refugee Profiteers, Too

July 5, 2016 Nika Knight, www.commondreams.org Educate! Profit, Refugees, Wars and Militarism

By Nika Knight for Common Dreams - The report (pdf), Border Wars: The Arms Dealers Profiting from Europe's Refugee Tragedy, released jointly by the European Stop Wapenhandel and Transnational Institute (TNI) on Monday, outlines arms traders' pursuit of profit in the 21st century's endless conflicts. "There is one group of interests that have only benefited from the refugee crisis, and in particular from the European Union's investment in 'securing' its borders,'" the report finds.

Tens Of Thousands Of Child Refugees Are Missing In Europe

June 17, 2016 Vijay Prashad, www.alternet.org Educate! Children, Disappearances, Europe, Refugees

By Vijay Prashad for AlterNet - UNICEF–the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund–has released two reports on the tragic situation of refugee children who are fleeing areas of conflict and poverty for the West. These reports–Danger Every Step of the Way (June 5) and The Refugee Crisis in Europe (June 16)–are written with great understatement. They tell a few individual stories, accumulate statistical data of the problem and make pleas based on the international legal obligations on states.

«1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 »

Daily movement news and resources