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At LAX protests, a teachable moment for parents

LA School Report | January 29, 2017


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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 29: Demonstrators against President Donald Trump's Muslim Ban come together at 2nd Day of protests at Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, United States on January 29, 2017. Lots of muslim people still under custody of US Custom and Border Patrol after Trumps's executive order. (Photo by Aydin Palabiyikoglu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Demonstrators at Sunday’s second day of protests at Los Angeles International Airport. (Photo: Getty Images)

This article was produced in partnership with our colleagues at The74Million.org.

The East Coast protests started haphazardly enough Saturday afternoon. Washington, D.C., residents started gathering at Dulles International Airport around the same time New Yorkers were trekking to JFK’s international terminal — rallied by Facebook Live videos and social media posts that decried President Trump’s new executive order temporarily banning travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries, including Syrian refugees, from entering the United States.

It was a few dozen, then a few hundred. Then a few thousand spread out across the country, as spontaneous demonstrations popped up further west — notably at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

Within hours, a full slate of Sunday protests had also been announced,  going viral on Twitter as people encouraged their followers to turn out the following day. Boston’s Copley Square, New York City’s Battery Park, D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue, and, of course, the airports: Philadelphia at 2 p.m., Chicago at 6, Los Angeles at 5, Boston at 7, Seattle at 5, JFK all day.

If Saturday evening’s protests were notable for their speed and spontaneity, Sunday’s protests were notable for the complexion of the crowds. Cutting across races, nationalities and age groups, uniting those who have birth certificates with green card holders, Americans took to the streets on Sunday.

And for many, it was a family affair.


At several airport actions Sunday, the sidewalks were dotted with kids — some grown, some small — as parents turned a peaceful protest into a teachable moment: about citizenship, community and free speech. In particular, the protest at Los Angeles International Airport saw families turn out in force. Several kids spoke about their own immigrant experience with parents or family members who came to the U.S. to start a new life.

Below, a few of the sights and sounds of students taking part in the Los Angeles protests — as well as a few other images from across the country:


https://www.facebook.com/boingboing/photos/a.10151118038581179.438569.27479046178/10154228314531179/?type=3&permPage=1


https://twitter.com/FromHappyRock/status/825814914946232320

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