President Trump has had just two Saturdays of his presidency so far and they’ve both been met with unprecedented national protest. Protesters flocked to JFK Saturday night until it was all but physically impossible to get there; then they shifted their attention to Cadman Plaza outside the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse, where a judge would eventually grant a temporary stay on Trump’s order. The scene at Cadman Plaza drew hundreds of people, musicians and people handing out free cheese plates, all channeling the righteous anger shown in one of the most popular protest signs of the weekend: “First they came for the Muslims, and I said ‘Not this time, motherfucker.'”
That a Brooklyn federal judge was the first to rule on the stay was a coincidence of jurisdiction, but it’s hard not to find some top notes of Brooklyn pride that the decision, and its related protests, was issued from Downtown Brooklyn in a city rife with immigrants, where you can see the Statue of Liberty from a train window on your commute into work. New Yorkers felt the worst effects of 9/11 and came out of it with a resolve to be more tolerant of others, not less. The overall message from New York to the residents of Trump’s America was: If we’re not scared, why the hell are you? Here’s a snapshot of how Brooklyn reacted to the events of the weekend:
We uphold the American ideal of liberty and justice for all. All are welcome here @brooklynmuseum: https://t.co/PAO0AGebWN
— Brooklyn Museum (@brooklynmuseum) January 29, 2017
Local that spoke out publicly included the Brooklyn Museum, which issued a statement saying:
The Brooklyn Museum is a catalyst for a more connected, civic and empathetic world and we uphold the American ideal of liberty and justice for all. As such, we do not stand for discrimination of any kind. Whatever your background and beliefs, we welcome you at the Brooklyn Museum.
And Mugs Ale House in Williamsburg:
Brooklyn bar sign pic.twitter.com/QOuKl8zZGx
— erin mccann | inspector general of your tweets (@mccanner) January 29, 2017
While some neighborhood bodegas joined the fight:
My Yemeni bodega has spoken pic.twitter.com/b9SAeNdkZM
— Amanda Mull (@amandamull) January 29, 2017
The overall message was that everyone is welcome in Brooklyn (and has been for a long time):
We are the Free Borough of Brooklyn #nobannowall pic.twitter.com/Sey2wYjnJM
— Lori Dorn (@HRLori) January 29, 2017
And we learned that pizza boxes make great last-minute protest signs:
Back of sign at NYC #NoBanNoWall demonstration – Bushwick Coal Oven Pizza. Of course. #brooklyn pic.twitter.com/awVezuQQ9M
— Jaynie's Got a Bun (@FreeGirlNowNYC) January 29, 2017
In Brooklyn you go right from the protest …
Banning Immigrants in Brooklyn? Fuhgeddaboutit #NoBanNoWall protest in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/kx9wSZJiEu
— Sara Jo Romero (@SaraJoRomero) January 29, 2017
… to the bar
To paraphrase another famous Brooklynite, we can do this all day:
yo @realDonaldTrump tweet some shit about brooklyn i dare you bruh
— Andrew J. Hawkins (@andyjayhawk) January 29, 2017
Basically, every New Yorker was just walking around like this, a whole city animated with the spirit of the Statue of Liberty to fight off a power-hungry medieval demon who sprung from an orange painting.
If you weren’t able to protest, donate to the ACLU here. It’s going to be a long four years, but Brooklyn is ready to show up every weekend if need be.
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WAY TO GO! YAY TO FAGHETABOUTIT! FAVORITE SIGN!