Santa Barbara woman organizing rally to unite Muslim Community
Aida Aminzai is fighting back against the travel ban even though her home country is not included in President Donald Trump’s executive order.
“It’s very important for me that my daughters grow up in a strong society,” said Aida Aminzai, a UC Los Angeles student and mother of three.
Aminzai understands why people flock to the United States. She’s a Muslim immigrant. She fled along with her parents from war-torn Afghanistan when she was three. Her father was on an execution list for being a filmmaker. Knowing that their home country was no longer safe, they left.
“They’re leaving as refugees to countries where they’re hoping to find a way to another country where they an find some refuge. They’re looking for comfort. They’re looking to survive,” said Aminzai.
She and her husband are organizing a rally called “We are all immigrants” this Saturday. She believes there is room for compromise with people who support the ban.
“Our meeting ground or common goal should be the future and the future of our children,” said Aminzai.
Turns out, there are more people supporting the ban than those who oppose it.
Jo Wideman is the executive director of Californians for Population Stabilization, also known as “CAPS.”
“The problem is we really don’t have the resources. We really can’t take millions and millions of people around the world who would like to come here,” said Wideman.
She has been with CAPS for 16 years. Wideman says CAPS is comprised by a large group of people who care about the United States deeply. They’re afraid that if the U.S. continues to make it easy for people to illegally live in the country, then resources could be depleted.
“In terms of what we see as common ground, I think we are a nation of laws. We’d like people to come legally, to want to be American,” said Wideman.
The Aminzai’s hope this weekend’s rally will bring compassion to those who’ve never walked in their shoes.
The rally will take place at De La Guerra Plaza on Saturday, February 4, at 2:00 p.m.
