Dozens gathered Dec. 10 outside the Trump International Hotel in Washington to denounce Donald Trump. The billionaire has recently sparked a fresh round of controversy by suggesting that the United States should create a national database of Muslims within its borders and prevent any Muslims from entering the country, at least temporarily. At the rally, activists from ANSWER Coalition and Code Pink held signs urging “BOYCOTT TRUMP TOWER OF SHAME,” “STOP HATRED AGAINST MIGRANTS,” and “REFUGEES WELCOME.”
Still under construction, the Trump International Hotel will be inside the Old Post Office Pavilion, a tourist landmark owned by the federal government. While its under construction, Trump has placed large signs on the building that read, “COMING 2016…TRUMP…TRUMPHOTEL.COM.” They bear a striking resemblance to his campaign posters and sparked an outcry, as candidates cannot put their campaign signs on federal property. Regulators in the District of Columbia said that because the signs are technically for a commercial property, there was nothing they could do.
But that didn’t stop Code Pink from putting a large pink sign underneath his name that said, “RACIST.”
Speakers at the rally included representatives of the Islamic and Christian communities, the National Organization for Women, Code Pink, and Ghada Mukhdad, a Syrian refugee and member of the Syrian Civil Coalition which, according to their website, is a “lobby of Syrian civil society organizations, activists, and initiatives” that seeks to address “the increasing gap between the needs and priorities of the Syrian society on one hand and those making decisions concerning Syria.”
Ms. Mukhdad arrived in the United States with her family in 2012. When she took the microphone, she painted an optimistic vision of her new home.
“The United States of America is the first country [that] protects others from any violence which they are suffering in their country,” she said.
“I know from my personal experience with the people of America … since I came here [they have been] very generous in accepting me and my family.”
Ms. Mukhdad said she has three sons — one is going to dental school, another is a pre-medical student, and her third is a ninth-grader whom, she said, “is getting awards in science and technology.”
Soon, she turned to address the issue of racism.
“This is an example of Syrian family who came to the United States,” she said.
“And I really want you Americans to say your words against Mr. Trump. This is what I believe.”
The Reverend Graylan Hagler also spoke at the rally, and had harsh words for the press’ role in giving Trump airtime.
“The media has been pumping him up… as if [his words have] some kind of moral content to them,” Hagler said.
To Christians who might consider supporting Trump, Rev. Hagler added,
“There’s nothing in Trump’s rhetoric that even mirrors Christian values.”
After reciting part of Matthew 25, Jesus’ parable in which someone’s treatment of the poor and the stranger determines their fate at the last judgment, Hagler said that Trump, “really runs against the grains of Christian values, gospel values… He is really in a sense representing the worst of the country. He’s massaging the racist tendency that exists in this country that has always been there.”
While all of the speakers agreed in their denunciation of Trump’s Islamophobic rhetoric, not everyone in the audience felt as passionately. One man, who gave his name only as “Lee,” came to protest event organizers ANSWER and Code Pink.
“I’m not even really here to discuss what they’re talking about in terms of Trump,” he said.
“I take great issue though with what Code Pink and ANSWER have said about our military… They call Marines war criminals! They call Marines and soldiers war criminals on a regular basis,” Lee said.
“They’ve been doing it since 2003 – and they want to talk about hateful rhetoric?”
Mukhdad had only positive things to say about the U.S. But she warned that Donald Trump is “affecting the image of the American people to the outside world,” saying people in Syria are watching and are scared.
Mukhdad said she has never experienced discrimination or harassment while in the U.S., but she had a stern warning to the United States: “Defend your image to the outside world. You are very friendly to others. Don’t give him this chance.”
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