The city of Philadelphia came together to show their support of #SanctuaryEverywhere
‘Let the world know that in Philly, we stand together’
Today, thousands protested at the Philadelphia March for Humanity in the Thomas Paine Plaza from 1pm to 4pm against President Trump’s executive order that bans refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim countries.
The hashtag #SanctuaryEverywhere was created in order to spread the idea that everyday people can come together to keep each other safe.
Whether they’re welcoming refugees, protecting religious groups, advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement, Immigrant or LGBTQI rights—the march is the reminder that Philadelphia will be united against it all.
Their Facebook event states, “We cannot repeat past injustices. We cannot be divided and conquered. We will not fall for scapegoating. We will resist any policies that are racist, Islamophobic, or authoritarian.”
The march was originally created by a Temple University student, Thomas Davidenko who had his event deleted by Facebook. However, the American Friends Service Committee would create the same event again after this incident occurred.
“Just know that you could do this too. I’m an 18-year-old, I have NO connections!” Davidenko said
Temple University Freshman, Thomas Davidenko, originally organized this march.
Approximately 3,000 people of all ages said they would attend the march on their Facebook event, and amongst those people were children protesting alongside their families like Vanessa and Ava.
This mother and daughter duo told The Tab that they believe in the importance of our youth participating in empowering marches such as these and why we shouldn’t stop fighting.
“We’re here for two reasons: to support humanity and the fact that we all started as immigrants,” said Vanessa, Ava’s mother. “It’s also important that we teach our youth how to love and to always fight for what we believe in. They could only learn from what we teach them—no one else.”
Vanessa and Ava proudly showing their signs at the Philadelphia March for Humanity.
The Philadelphia March for Humanity had various speakers such as Kerri Kennedy from the American Friends Service Committee, Rev. Gregory Holston and Ndeen Al-Barquawi—a high school Muslim student who amazed the crowd with her original poem.
Ndeen tells the crowd, “My mother does not quit. My mother runs over oceans for her children, she does not weep into rivers. Mom, I’m not saying it’s not okay to give up. I’m just saying when you do, make sure your head is a claw; make sure their skins finds home in your fingernails, that you staple your hijab to the nape of your neck before you ever let them take it.”
Protestors were united today with the overall message of standing up for the basic rights of every human being. Liz Ellis, a Philadelphia NoDAPL activist, told the crowd to stand with their neighbor and why Philadelphia will always be united against this ban, wall or pipelines.