Thousands protest across US against Trump's immigration policies
Washington, July 1 : Thousands of Americans from all walks of life took to the streets of cities across the US and chanted "families belong together", nearly two months after President Donald Trump implemented the "zero tolerance" policy toward undocumented immigrants, prompting the separation of thousands of children from their parents.
The main rally on Saturday was in Washington, D.C., but hundreds of marches, protests and rallies took place across the country in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, Miami, St. Louis, San Francisco and Los Angeles, where crowds called for the immediate reunification of migrant families and an end to family detentions and separations, reports CNN.
According to organisers, the protesters called for three demands: they want separated migrant families to be reunited immediately; they want the government to end family detentions; and they want the Trump administration to end its zero tolerance policy.
Attendees in Washington marched from Lafayette Square to the White House -- though the President is at his golf resort in New Jersey -- and down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the Trump Hotel, where chants of "Shame! Shame! Shame!" broke out.
In Atlanta, demonstrators carried cages with dolls inside, and marchers in Chicago encouraged each other to "fight back".
In New York, protesters overflowed Foley Square in Lower Manhattan and filled the surrounding sidewalks. Crowds also inched across the Brooklyn Bridge for more than two hours.
Protesters in Houston chanted, "No baby jails", outside City Hall. Crowds gathered in McAllen, Texas, the border town where one of the Customs and Border Protection agency's processing detention centres sits.
Several celebrities joined the rallies, including singer-songwriter John Legend, who sang his song "Preach" at a demonstration in Los Angeles, veteran singer Cher who encouraged people to vote in November, actresses Kerry Washington and Amy Schumer marched in New York while singer Alicia Keys performed in Washington.
Many attendees carried signs, some demanding a change to the administration's policy, others celebrating the contributions that immigrants make to the country.
There were also plenty of signs and shirts declaring, "I really do care, do u?" -- a dig at the jacket First Lady Melania Trump wore while departing for a trip to the southwest border last week.
Event organisers said Saturday's protests were about addressing an ethical issue.
"This is not left or right," Anna Galland, Executive Director of MoveOn.org, one of the organisations leading Saturday's protests, told CNN.
"It is right and wrong."
Galland said she and Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal put out a call for protests less than two weeks ago and they were "overwhelmed" by the response.
Jayapal, who was also arrested during a similar protest at the Senate office building last week, said: "This is beyond politics... You don't put kids in cages. You don't separate breastfeeding babies from their mothers. You don't put asylum-seekers in prison, and we're calling for an end to that today."
More than 2,500 undocumented children were separated from their parents in the weeks since the zero-tolerance policy took effect, reports CNN.
Under the policy, any adult caught crossing the border illegally faced prosecution and their children were sent to federal shelters all over the US.
There were widespread outrage over the separations which prompted Trump to sign an executive order on June 20 reversing the family separation policy.
Six days after that order was signed, only six children had been reunited with their parents -- meaning more than 2,000 children were still in limbo.
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Shipping authority says 3 Indian seafarers killed in Middle East; issues advisory
New Delhi (PTI): At least three Indian seafarers on board foreign-flagged vessels were killed and one was injured in the Middle East region, the Directorate General of Shipping said on Tuesday as it issued an advisory for maritime operators to assess voyage-specific risks, amid escalated military actions involving the US, Israel and Iran that threaten disruptions of major trade routes.
"There have been four reported incidents involving Indian seafarers in the region, resulting in three casualties and one injured seafarer, all of whom were serving on board foreign-flagged vessels," the Directorate General of Shipping said.
On Tuesday, American and Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Iran since killing its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday. Tehran and its allies have hit back against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world's production of oil and natural gas.
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President Donald Trump on Monday said the US has "the capability to go far longer" than its projected four-to-five-week time frame for its military operations against Iran.
In an advisory, the Directorate General of Shipping said it is closely monitoring the evolving maritime security situation in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and adjoining sea areas.
It said the threats of the recent geopolitical developments included missile and drone activity, electronic interference, and other maritime security concerns.
Stakeholders have been advised to maintain heightened vigilance and undertake voyage-specific risk assessments, and vessels operating in the region have been advised to maintain an enhanced security posture and bridge watch, ensure continuous communication readiness, and report any suspicious activity immediately, with transit through high-risk areas to be reviewed by operators based on prevailing conditions, the shipping authority said.
About the incident involving Indian seafarers, the Directorate said the remaining crew members on board are safe and secure, and the Directorate, as well as other authorities, are maintaining close coordination with all stakeholders to ensure their continued safety, well-being and timely support.
All necessary support, assistance and facilitation are being extended to the affected seafarers and their families, it added.
The directorate further said that it has activated enhanced monitoring and security oversight, real-time tracking of Indian-flagged vessels with increased reporting frequency and 24X7 monitoring.
"Mandatory reporting protocols have been prescribed for vessels, owners and managers, and close coordination is being maintained with the Indian Navy, Ministry of External Affairs, IFC-IOR, MRCC and Indian Missions," it said.
Shipping companies have also been advised to exercise due caution in crew deployment and to maintain regular communication with seafarers and their families.
The Directorate said a dedicated 'quick response team' has also been formed to ensure timely coordination among all concerned authorities, enable immediate response to emerging situations, and facilitate prompt assistance and support to Indian seafarers and their families.
