After Trump announced a ban on immigrants from Muslim countries (even if they had green cards), Americans immediately sprang to action. Thousands of people streamed into airports all over the country to protest the ban. They held sit ins, waved signs, chanted, and demanded that officials let detainees in.
Protesters also documented their activities on Twitter. Here are some of the sights and sounds of Americans standing up to to Trump.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City)
Your defiance is beautiful. Dissent is patriotic! #LetThemIn #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/nFqfPfxf5m
— People For Bernie (@People4Bernie) January 28, 2017
We've made an impromptu lawyer's office in #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/hDPSR9dp1a
— ACLU (@ACLU) January 29, 2017
"At least half the immigration bar is here." Overheard at JFK terminal 4, where lawyers have taken over the food court, coordinating defense pic.twitter.com/lvvWm1gBb2
— Max RN (@MaxRivlinNadler) January 29, 2017
DONALD TRUMP DONT READ
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projectionist at #JFKTerminal4…hello… pic.twitter.com/3xQAdB1iv4— Clio Chang (@cliomiso) January 29, 2017
The cab line at #JFK airport is empty. At 6pm, NYC taxi drivers went on strike in protest of #muslimban #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/fXpzd0jcmy
— People For Bernie (@People4Bernie) January 28, 2017
NYPD JUST SHUT DOWN THE AIRTRAIN TO #JFKTerminal4. #NoBanNoWall #WeStandUnited #NotMyPresident #100DaysOfResistance #ResistTrump 🇺🇸✊️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8HvCLQLWYL
— Tommie Sunshine 😎✊️ (@tommiesunshine) January 28, 2017
Protester and cops in riot-gear #JFKTerminal4 #MuslimBanprotest pic.twitter.com/u0SulWfhiC
— Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) January 29, 2017
Every floor is full at JFK #MuslimBan #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/dT7UtQs6iK
— NYCLU (@NYCLU) January 28, 2017
#noban #I❤NY pic.twitter.com/Qn8IfRiu4I
— Nisi Jacobs🌈🇮🇱🇺🇸 (@ShainaJewess) January 29, 2017
Tonight we proved to the world when people come together we win. #NoBanNoWall #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/HBaDtX7hIb
— Moumita 🌹Ahmed (@disruptionary) January 29, 2017
Washington Dulles International Airport (Virginia)
Welcome to America: We Are Happy You Are Here Photo from Dulles, VA #muslimban protest #nonmuslimban #allarewelcome @ACLUVA #ACLU #noban pic.twitter.com/HSRCij46I7
— Geoff Livingston (@geoffliving) January 29, 2017
Iraq vet w/ 4 Purple Hearts, drove two hours to Dulles w/ his son.
Nobody called him. He just came. Why?
"Not what I fought for." pic.twitter.com/pAe50ugtlI
— Mike Breen (@M_Breen) January 28, 2017
#Dulles tonight, approaching midnight pic.twitter.com/6XwJe6Ivc0
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) January 29, 2017
The moment some of those detained emerged from detention here in Dulles pic.twitter.com/7p22grGkGS
— Yeganeh Torbati (@yjtorbati) January 29, 2017
"Welcome home! Welcome home!" chant and cheers just now at #Dulles pic.twitter.com/OXXeoSTUlN
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) January 29, 2017
Newark International Airport (New Jersey)
Newark International Airport pic.twitter.com/jZmZuxDQTO
— benny ☭ ✡️ (@bennykoval) January 29, 2017
"God commands us to welcome the stranger" pic.twitter.com/EpnM0NUhTM
— benny ☭ ✡️ (@bennykoval) January 29, 2017
Protest going strong outside Newark International Airport, Terminal B. #nomuslimban #NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/m18rXDoHIB
— Rachel Edelman (@RachelEdelman78) January 29, 2017
Protesters against President Trump's immigration policy at Newark Liberty International Airport. @northjersey pic.twitter.com/Rh9CltyK3I
— Michael Karas (@MikeKarasPhoto) January 29, 2017
One detainee at Newark Airport released #NoMuslimBan pic.twitter.com/MFDxU7NhYB
— Allison (@A_Wed41) January 29, 2017
San Francisco International Airport
There's a sit down now at international arrivals SFO. People not moving until attorneys allowed in. pic.twitter.com/b3jiNfhN6T
— Sana Saleem (@sanasaleem) January 29, 2017
Half of the protestors leaving to go to checkpoint three as protestors begin spreading out #notinourname pic.twitter.com/5dJpoBugya
— Sana Saleem (@sanasaleem) January 29, 2017
In case you were like, oh they probably lost steam as SFO, nope. This is my fav chant, so simple: "You build the wall, we tear it down." pic.twitter.com/BM4EdHel0c
— Meagan Day (@meaganmday) January 29, 2017
People at SFO aren't joking about staying. Everyone sat down, not getting up until they comply with the national stay, let the detainees out pic.twitter.com/1Zr877475B
— Meagan Day (@meaganmday) January 29, 2017
Eighty-year old Iranian who landed 6 hours ago was just let out says: "Trump is America's Ahmadinejad" pic.twitter.com/yc7iO8B9FV
— Sana Saleem (@sanasaleem) January 29, 2017
Meanwhile, up a level, #MuslimBanprotest still going strong. Really amazing when you remember they've been going since before 3 p.m. #SFO pic.twitter.com/rqOse2REEb
— Vivian Ho (@VivianHo) January 29, 2017
Los Angeles International Airport
LAX Airport: Say it loud and say it clear; muslims are welcome here #MuslimBan #NoWallNoBan #aclu pic.twitter.com/dgDqR1HDiq
— Malek Bishawi (@BishawiM) January 29, 2017
Just drove by this at LAX. #Americasprettygreat pic.twitter.com/otV3SaL7gG
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) January 29, 2017
Happening at LAX airport right now. #NoBanNoWall #NoMuslimBan #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/2KnLH8NMwO
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) January 29, 2017
Hell yeah LAX pic.twitter.com/8ccqZ2WNlQ
— John Hendel (@Hendyhendel) January 29, 2017
#LAX RIGHT NOW. #RESIST @ACLU @ShaunKing @womensmarch #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/XxUUqMWqOg
— Gingger Shankar (@GinggerShankar) January 29, 2017
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Georgia)
Rep. John Lewis after an immigration official declined to say how many are being detained: "Why don't we just sit down and stay a while." pic.twitter.com/uKx5hSZObJ
— Jeremy Redmon (@JeremyLRedmon) January 29, 2017
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Everyone in this picture is an attorney in O'Hare's intl terminal pic.twitter.com/vBttpkKyWe
— Sam Charles (@samjcharles) January 28, 2017
Tonight's protest against Trump's immigrant and refugee ban at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. pic.twitter.com/dtp1nwX3VT
— Jacobin (@jacobinmag) January 29, 2017
Protestors march through O'Hare's international terminal chanting "No Hate. No fear. Refugees are welcome here." pic.twitter.com/HvMRkxM3pf
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) January 29, 2017
Mohammad Amirisefat, whose sister, brother-in-law and niece are currently held, thanks supporters in O'Hare's Intl terminal pic.twitter.com/IH7KHZkYwh
— Sam Charles (@samjcharles) January 28, 2017
VIDEO: JUST NOW: Man & child just released at O'Hare @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/CWxQ8jLJHw
— Chris Hush (@ChrisHushNBC) January 29, 2017
Cheers go up at O'Hare as attorneys announce all the detainees have been released, pic.twitter.com/3Z2ONADRcr
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) January 29, 2017
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
The protest at #DfwAirport right now. #RESISTANCE pic.twitter.com/BjFsNvUqZu
— Mark Rosen (@muerko) January 29, 2017
At least 9 people still being detained at #dfwairport — protest going strong!! Not leaving until they are set free! pic.twitter.com/rwfeoxgToj
— Jessica Martinez (@MelonSugar) January 29, 2017
One of the protestors wrapped an American flag as her hijab #DFWAirport pic.twitter.com/Rgd7haNcV2
— linah | لينة (@mohammadlinah) January 29, 2017
Almost midnight and the protest is still going at #DFWAirport. pic.twitter.com/yteeyx3XJu
— Matthew Reyna (@MatthewReynaTX) January 29, 2017
Update at DFW Airport #DfwAirport #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/gho2TSAFkt
— Some Nobody (@kennedywhittier) January 29, 2017
Denver International Airport
Update : we'll be arrested if we stay. Everyone says we're here for Omar. #muslimban pic.twitter.com/FOUFxqGFL3
— CK (@ckassis) January 29, 2017
Hundreds here at Denver airport for spontaneous protest. Guitars, chants, hugs, prayers, roses, hymns. pic.twitter.com/sG1u1bIhHI
— julieturkewitz (@julieturkewitz) January 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/jOSHgROVES/status/825530217670270976
Protesters lock hands and circle around people praying at Denver Airport. #MuslimBan 🙇🏻 pic.twitter.com/jj3RjMhnhw
— #Thinker 🌀 (@areta) January 29, 2017
This is the scene at Denver airport. These kids are Moroccan American. "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here!" pic.twitter.com/e5NbYbM7n6
— julieturkewitz (@julieturkewitz) January 29, 2017
At Denver airport supporting refugees pic.twitter.com/O4aUe0YezF
— César (@crimmigration) January 29, 2017
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Wow. #seatac now: "Islamaphobia has got to go!" "Seattle #airport pic.twitter.com/prGFD3MDfA
— Bernard (@bernardr) January 29, 2017
Video of arrivals at #SeaTac for #MuslimBan protest pic.twitter.com/fxd9s2hVot
— Sam Levine (@samlevine) January 29, 2017
#MuslimBan protest at #SeaTac pic.twitter.com/8LVE1NtlhK
— Clayton Aldern (@compatibilism) January 29, 2017
MASSIVE swell of protesters at #SeaTacAirport. #nobannowallsea #nobannowall #seatac pic.twitter.com/vvpJBAlPG8
— Carollani 🌈 (@carollani) January 29, 2017
#seatac people blocking checkpoints. Shutting down SeaTac til detainees free #nomuslimban pic.twitter.com/ZhpcvhSiOj
— curtis johnson (@curtisjohnson70) January 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/ultrasonicshirt/status/825604065786605568
100s of protesters still going at #SeaTac. They've shutdown multiple TSA checkpoints. Chants of "Let them in!" pic.twitter.com/A1UkLIxPUO
— Omar Ghabra (@omarghabra) January 29, 2017
Logan International Airport (Boston)
Throngs at #Boston airport burst into cheers as someone announces the legal stay of #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/qGYfyMR1n3
— Lecia Sequist (@LeciaSequist) January 29, 2017
Spotted: @SenWarren has arrived to Logan Airport for the #MuslimBan protest in Boston pic.twitter.com/uYSIHf5j1r
— Danny Hajjar (@DanielGHajjar) January 29, 2017
We’ll fight today, and we’ll fight tomorrow. Join us at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Copley Square. pic.twitter.com/zrH3cd2eXl
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) January 29, 2017
The scene at Boston's Logan Airport right now pic.twitter.com/eDrSlNfQL3
— I can smell your tweets from here, my good bitch (@ChrisCaesar) January 29, 2017
WATCH: Hamed Hosseini-Bay, an Iranian researcher, embraces his wife, Baharak Bahmani, at Logan Airport on Saturday. https://t.co/dRtLkqF8No pic.twitter.com/xYBAUBZFsJ
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) January 29, 2017
10:30p at #Logan airport. @MassStatePolice aren't letting anyone else in Terminal E because the crowd has gotten so large. #wcvb pic.twitter.com/TbKTManOM7
— Julie Loncich (@JulieLoncich) January 29, 2017
Boston announces last person being detained has walked out#NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/kUuXUJ9doJ
— Daniel Parmer (@dparmer) January 29, 2017
…And more
The protests aren’t over. There will be more demonstrations against the Muslim ban.
In the current political climate, it’s easy to feel despair. But look at the images above: Americans were able to do this spontaneously, with no warning and very little planning. We’re stronger than we think. We just have to keep fighting.
(Header image via Charlotte Alter’s Twitter)
