Fed up with the demonization of immigrants, and angered by the vitriol aimed at refugees, more than 125 people rallied Saturday in Stone Mountain against politicians and governments who’ve targeted Syrians, Iraqis and Muslims in general who seek better, safer lives in America.
They spilled down the steps at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church chanting “refugees yes, hate speech no.” Syrians, Somalis, Sudanese and Americans then inveighed against “politicians who don’t speak for us.” Finally, the protestors lined Memorial Drive with placards proclaiming “Christ is a refugee” and “Will trade racists for refugees” and “Welcome y’all.”
The peaceful, yet pointed demonstration was a friendly antidote to the politicians, including Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, who’ve made immigrants feel increasingly unwelcome.
“I know the Americans are very sweet people and welcoming,” said Nour Alkhalouf, 19, a Syrian seeking political asylum who studies civil engineering at Georgia State University. “But after the Paris attacks, we got scared. We were no longer welcome here. We were considered a threat.”
Gunmen pledging allegiance to ISIS, the terror group waging war across Syria, Iraq and, now, the West, slaughtered 130 people in France a month ago, fueling anti-Muslim sentiment worldwide. Within a few days Gov. Deal told the Obama administration that Georgia would no longer accept Syrian refugees for resettlement.
Anger towards, and fear of, Muslims escalated dramatically in the United States after the Dec. 2 killings of 14 Californians by a husband and wife considered ISIS sympathizers. The anti-immigrant atmosphere was further poisoned by Trump — the leading contender for the Republican nomination — who called Monday for a ban against all Muslims entering the country.
“Politicians don’t speak for us,” Dianne Mathiowetz, coordinator of the nonprofit Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, told the festive crowd Saturday. “Many of the refugees and immigrants under attack live close to here. We want to make sure they know we have their backs.”
Huda Saeb, 18, is Alkhalouf’s cousin. She’s an American, a Muslim, an Alpharettan studying at Georgia State. America’s bedrock principles, the philosophical beacons that have attracted generations of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jews, are in danger of crumbling, she said.
“If we discriminate against immigrants then we should just take that Statue of Liberty down,” Saeb said. “When you think of America you think of freedeom, not racism. The country was not founded on discrimination.”
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