May 5, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Protestors at LAX Continue to Oppose President Trump’s Barring of Visitors From Muslim Countries

A small band of protesters returned to Los Angeles International Airport Monday to continue protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration order barring visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries, but the demonstration was a mere shadow of weekend rallies that delayed flights and snarled traffic.

Members of United Service Workers West, SEIU-USWW, gathered outside the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, chanting slogans and banging drums in opposition to the travel ban. The union workers had a pre-scheduled rally planned at the airport in conjunction with ongoing labor negotiations, but expanded its action to condemn Trump’s order.

There were no immediate reports of any disruptions to airport activity as a result of the protest — a stark contrast from mass rallies in the Central Terminal Area over the weekend in the midst of confusion as Trump’s order took effect.

Thousands of people marched around the international terminal area, with some remaining at the airport until early Monday morning, when the crowd finally dispersed. According to Los Angeles World Airports spokeswoman Nancy Castles, the crowd dissipated by about 12:30 a.m., and the loop road through the airport was completely reopened on both levels.

Two people were arrested during the Sunday protests for blocking the roadway, she said. A total of 15 flights — six international and nine domestic — were reported delayed because flight crews and passengers had trouble reaching their terminals.

Airport police worked throughout the day to keep protesters and counter- protesters apart as “they scream at each other,” Los Angeles Airport police spokesman Rob Pedregon said. Airport officials and protesters finally agreed that protesters could block the crosswalk at the international terminal for about 15 minutes every half hour and that the arrival and departure levels would not be blocked at the same time, according to Castles.

The lower level roadway was closed starting at 2 p.m. Sunday outside the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which sits between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, Pedregon said. The number 4 lane and the outer curb area of the lower level roadway was reopened by 3 p.m., but airport police urged travelers to arrive early and plan on delays.

At the heart of the matter was Trump’s Executive Order banning indefinitely all refugees from Syria entering the United States. The order blocked all refugee admissions for 120 days, and also stopped all refugee and non-refugee entries from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria for 90 days.

At a news conference in Anaheim, members of various civil-rights groups condemned the action.

“This ban does not make our country safer,” said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los  Angeles Area Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “Instead, it serves to stigmatize Muslims, Muslim refugees, and the entire American Muslim community. It will hand a propaganda tool to our enemies who promote the false narrative of an American war on Islam.”

The national office of CAIR filed a federal lawsuit in Virginia Monday challenging the constitutionality of Trump’s order, which the White House defends as a step in preventing potential terrorists from entering the country. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that despite all the uproar, only about 100 travelers out of about 320,000 visitors were detained for additional screenings.

“It’s a shame that people were inconvenienced, obviously, but at the end of the day we’re talking about a couple of hours,” Spicer said.

“I’m sorry that some folks may have had to await a little while, but I think the president would much rather know that he’s not placing a call to someone who was killed because someone was let in this country to commit a terrorist act.”

He added, “Coming into the this country is still a privilege. We’re the greatest country on Earth. Being able to come to America is a privilege, not a right. And it is our duty and it’s the president’s goal to make sure that everybody who comes into this country — to the best of our ability — is here because they want to enjoy this country and come in peacefully.”

The protests at LAX actually began on Saturday. At least 300 people rallied against the executive order at LAX Saturday afternoon, Maria Elena Jauregui of the Service Employees International Union said. The protests began as word spread about dozens of people being detained or turned away as friends and relatives came to meet them.

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a statement pledging to find every avenue possible to defend residents and refugees barred from re- entry into the United States.

“Justice doesn’t live or die on the stroke of one man’s pen regardless of how high his office,” Becerra said, calling rump’s executive order unjust and anti-American. “It discriminates against human beings based on their faith. It denies entry to those with proven and legitimate fears of death and prosecution. It tramples on centuries of American tradition.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti added, “Los Angeles will always be a place of refuge, where the most vulnerable people fleeing war, or religious or political oppression, can find a safe and welcoming home. Congress outlawed the banning of immigrants by nationality more than 50 years ago because we have long known it does not make us safer.”

LAX

Related Posts

Major Mixed-Use Project Unveiled for Culver City’s Fox Hills

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

New Housing, Retail Project Could Redefine Fox Hills Corridor A new chapter in Culver City’s Fox Hills neighborhood is beginning...

Bruce Willis’ Former Beverly Hills Canyon Property Listed for $15 Million

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

Eight-Lot Mulholland Estate Includes a 1950s Ranch Home. 31 Acres A sprawling canyon estate in the Beverly Hills Post Office...

Prices Spike in Brentwood, West Hollywood, and Santa Monica Amid Post-Fire Housing Rush

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

Displaced Families Are Reshaping Los Angeles’ Housing Market on the Westside Home sales and prices across Los Angeles surged in...

Summer at Crossroads: Students Create, Grow and Learn Over the Summer

May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

A catalog of programs and classes has opened for Summer at Crossroads, an immersive experience for students to continue to...

‘Missing Puzzle Piece’: Santa Monica Fire Department Partners with Wise & Healthy Aging

May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

Support Services Lead to Reduction in Frequent Emergency Calls A collaborative effort between the Santa Monica Fire Department and Wise&Healthy...

Jessica Alba’s “Dream Home” Hits the Market for $19M Amid Split from Cash Warren

May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

After 16 Years, the Couple Parts Ways and Prepares to Sell Their Family Estate. Actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba and...

Golfers Stunned as Plane Lands at Golf Course Instead of Santa Monica Airport

May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

No injuries reported after unexpected landing in Pacific Palisades On Friday, a Cessna 172  that was unable to complete its...

LADWP Hosts Women’s Career and Wellness Expo to Highlight Utility Jobs

May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

IBEW Teams Up with LADWP to Advance Gender Equity in Public Utilities The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power...

Film Review: The Accountant 2

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

FILM REVIEWTHE ACCOUNTANT 2Rated R124 MinutesReleased April 25th   I’m impressed with The Accountant 2. It’s intelligently written, tightly paced, and...

Culver City’s Hero Faire Returns May 4 With Costumes, Contests, and Community Fun

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

A Whimsical Adventure for Families and Fantasy Fans This Weekend Families, friends, and fantasy fans alike are invited to embrace...

Driver in Fatal PCH Crash That Killed Four Pepperdine Students Ordered to Stand Trial

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

Man Accused of Driving 104 MPH in Fatal Malibu Crash  Fraser Michael Bohm, 23, was held to answer on four...

Police Search for Suspects in Attempted Smash-and-Grab at West L.A. Bakery

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

Investigation of Burglary Attempt at Pico-Robertson Bakery Underway Authorities are searching for four suspects who attempted to burglarize a West...

Rolling Robots Camp is a ‘Tech Genius Program’

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Roll out the … robots.  An afterschool learning center for robotics and STEM is hosting weekly camps this summer designed...

UCLA Police Confront Students at Anniversary Screening of Encampment Documentary

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Students Mark Somber Anniversary With a Film, UCPD Responds in Force On the first anniversary of the attack on the...

Cinco de Mayo Heats Up West Los Angeles With Food, Art, Music, and Mezcal Tastings

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Mezcal Tastings, DJ Sets, Live Mural Installations, and Tlayudas Await It’s almost time for the holiday that isn’t celebrated in...