Muslim Ban 2.0 Is Halted, Trump Lashes Back...
INTO THE STREETS ON MARCH 16: NO WALL! NO MUSLIM BAN!

March 15, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

 

Hours before Trump’s Muslim Ban 2.0 was to go into effect, it was halted by a temporary restraining order (TRO) by a federal court judge in Hawai’i. The ban is based on utterly baseless claims that immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries threaten the safety of people in this country. As we have written, this ban signals a major change in the posture toward the world’s many majority-Muslim countries. And in this country, the ban aims to create an atmosphere where large sections of the population view all Muslims as suspected terrorists to hate and fear. It throws red meat to Trump’s fascist minions and incites them to attack Muslims. And it demonizes, pariah-izes Muslims and terrorizes other sections of people. (see “No Ban! No Wall! Resist Trump’s Muslim Ban 2.0”)

The federal court ruling in Hawai’i follows an earlier ruling by a federal court in the state of Washington around the first Trump executive order attempting to ban Muslims. In this case, the courts found the ban violated constitutional protection against persecuting people simply because of their religion—which a Muslim ban (as Trump repeatedly described it on the campaign trail) obviously would do. The first court restraining order came in the midst of a powerful, inspiring outbreak of mass protests at airports large and small, in every part of the country. People, including many who are not Muslims, poured into the airports demanding that those who were being detained under the ban be set free. There were other factors resulting in the court ruling, including real differences within the U.S. ruling class over how to maintain their global empire and the stability of their homeland. But the critical and dynamic factor was that people went into the streets (and airports) and didn’t back down until the ban was halted.

Only moments after the Hawai’i federal court judge’s TRO, Trump unleashed a feral, Hitler-like attack on the courts, on Muslims, and on the rule of law at a “campaign” rally in Tennessee. He railed, “People are screaming break up the Ninth Circuit. I tell you what? That Ninth Circuit. You have to see. Take a look at how many times they have been overturned with their terrible decisions. Take a look. And this is what we have to live with.” (Both temporary restraining orders against his Muslim ban were issued by Ninth Circuit Court judges.) Trump claimed the ruling threatened the “safety” of Americans. And he ranted, “This ruling makes us look weak, which by the way we no longer are, believe me. Just look at our borders. We are going to fight this ruling and take it as far as it needs to go, including all the way up to the Supreme Court. We are going to win ... and regardless we are going to keep our citizens safe.” Trump not only declared his intent to take the court ruling to the Supreme Court, he made ominous threats that favorable court ruling or not, “We’re going to win....regardless.” And he is using this ruling to incite his minions to even more virulent levels of hatred towards not just Muslims, but anyone who doesn’t fit into “Make America White Again.”

It is important that this Muslim ban has been temporarily blocked. But there is no cause for anyone to breathe a sigh of relief. Trump’s ominous threats highlight the need to resist the ban and to drive out the Trump/Pence regime before they can fully lock down the reins of power.

Trump just told you what he intends to do. What is needed are mass outpourings in the streets now. Protests called for March 16, when the ban was to have gone into effect, must be big and powerful, and be marked by participation of not just those directly impacted, but by everyone who refuses to stand by while their Muslim sisters and brothers (and others) are demonized and terrorized. Find protests at RefuseFascism.org, or call one yourself. Bring the “NO!” message of Refuse Fascism, and connect people with Revolution newspaper and revcom.us.

 

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