Thousands Gather At Battery Park, March For Second Day Of Protests
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Thousands gathered in protest in the Battery and took to the streets on Sunday afternoon to speak out against President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the nation's refugee program and temporarily banning those coming from countries with terrorism concerns.
It was the second day of protests after demonstrators gathered at John F. Kennedy International Airport a day earlier
PHOTOS: Protesters Rally At JFK Against Muslim Immigration Ban | Battery Park Protest Photos
As WCBS 880's Myles Miller reported, nearly 10,000 protesters from across the city were packed Battery Park late Sunday afternoon. The site is across the river from Ellis Island, which welcomed 12 million immigrants to the U.S.
The sentiment was not lost on Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"We came to this country for freedom. We came to this country because it is a beacon," de Blasio said. "We will not let this beacon be put out by Donald Trump."
The Mayor's office tweeted video of the protest Sunday afternoon. The mayor also said he would also be attending the event.
We stand with the 5,000 (and growing!) New Yorkers in #BatteryPark. Please remember to protest safely. pic.twitter.com/yM6enknFOA
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 29, 2017
Make that 10,000 (and growing!) https://t.co/xS1Om0ZTcs
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 29, 2017
The demonstrators oppose President Trump's executive order banning non-U.S. citizens of seven majority Muslim countries entry into the United States.
"Even as early as this afternoon, there were still 17 individuals being held without a charge at JFK," de Blasio said.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also addressed the crowd, saying, "We are going to win this fight everybody!"
People held signs with slogans including "America was built by refugees," and "Muslim ban is un-American."
The protesters later marched to the Manhattan offices of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
The rally followed a night of big demonstrations at JFK Airport, where thousands of people spontaneously gathered to demand the release of detained travelers.
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