After the executive order barring refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US was signed last Friday, Books not Bombs released a call and petition toolkit to student organizers to urge their university presidents to speak out and defend their refugee, immigrant and international students. Books not Bombs received responses and public statements from university presidents including UC President Janet Napolitano, Columbia University’s Lee Bollinger and University of Michigan’s Mark Schlissel.
Books not Bombs organizer Iman Siddiqi presents case for Syrian refugee scholarships to UC Regents including Janet Napolitano
After the order was signed, Books not Bombs also helped scale pro-refugee campus rallies in Michigan and Florida through toolkits and press support for coverage and op-eds.
Books not Bombs is currently supporting and telling the stories of refugee students in immigration limbo. Post-ban, they will continue to campaign for academic seats for Syrian and refugee students abroad and those already resettled in the states, look to scale to Canada, and plan on introducing new ways for students and educators to support Syrian and refugee students.
Additional press coverage:
Mic | Hundreds rally in NYC to protest Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration
WUFT | Books Not Bombs Challenges President Trump’s Immigration Ban
MLIVE | ‘All the walls have got to go’ protesters against Trump say at Wayne State
WXYZ | Syrian student says refugee ban will prevent him from attending Wayne State University
To learn more about Books not Bombs, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
for Equity & Evidence