On Saturday, March 15th, local St. Louis residents gathered in front of the Global Entry Enrollment Center that handles arrests and deportations by ICE to show their support for recently detained student activist Mahmoud Khalil who was attending Columbia University in New York City.
Khalil, 30, was taken from his home by federal ICE agents who were acting on orders by the state department to revoke his student visa for his participation in pro-Palestine protests. When the agents were informed that Khalil was a green card holder by his lawyer, the agents said that too had been revoked.
Donald Trump took to social media to defend the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, and said “This is the first arrest of many to come.” when talking about student activists across the country at all universities participating in “pro terrorist” demonstrations in support of Palestine.
Khalil is a green card holder, which usually protects anyone from being deported unless they get their card stripped from them for committing a crime, which Khalil has not been accused of one yet. Khalil is also married to a US citizen who is expecting to give birth next month.
Demonstrations and protests were held all across the country on Saturday in support of Khalil. The local PSL St. Louis organized the one that occurred on Saturday.
“When you come after the legacy of the civil rights and women’s movements, we’re going to respond in force, and we will not back down.” was said by one of the PSL St. Louis event organizers in a speech to the crowd.
The demonstration started at 3, and lasted about two hours or so.
Holding a sign, a protestor and her friend say a chant back. Around 50 people showed up in support of Mahmoud Khalil.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Holding her sign up in support of Khalil, a protestor holds her sign up to get oncoming cars to honk in agreement of the demonstration.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Gripping onto one of the lead banners, a demonstrator looks for directions from event organizers towards the end of the march.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Shouting a chant, a protestor hold up his sign. Around 50 people showed up for Saturday’s event.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Shaking a cowbell, an activist helps set the rhythm for a chant. Around 50 people showed up in support of Khalil on Saturday.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Around 50 people showed up on Saturday in support of Khalil.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Around 50 people showed up in support of Khalil on Saturday.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Getting out of his car, a cop tells the crowd that while they can protest, they cant form a march, and shut down the street for oncoming cars.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Around 50 people showed up on Saturday in support of Khalil.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
As the demonstration begins, a PSL St. Louis member shouts a chant to get the crowd going.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Talking to the crowd as the protest begins, an event organizer gets the initial chants started.
Photo by; Seth Donovan
Around 50 St. Louis residents showed up on Saturday in support of Mahmoud Khalil.
Photo by; Seth Donovan