Rep. Johnson hears concerns of many at Immigrant-Refugee Listening Session

CLARKSTON—About 250 people came to the Clarkston Community Center on Feb. 12, vowing to fight the divisive President Donald Trump Administration and the GOP’s Congressional immigration and refugee policies. Rep. Johnson hosted the event in conjunction with Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry.

“President Trump’s ban is disgusting. That’s not what America stands for,” said Fatima Haji, a Somalian Refugee, who was happy to attend the Immigrant-Refugee Listening Session, hosted by Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04). “Moving here 20 years ago saved my life. It saved my family’s life.”

While event panelists shared stories of people being mistreated across the state and country, audience members shared apprehension about what President Trump and his followers are doing to America. Congressman Johnson said that everyone at the event has vowed to resist what President Trump is doing when it comes to immigration and other issues.

“We are all one community. We need to learn how to get along and share what this world has to offer. We are going to keep embracing our Muslim friends and neighbors,” said Rep. Johnson, who also hosted a town hall in Clarkston on January 15, 2017. “Together we can all grow and prosper, and be safe.”

About 45 percent of attendees were Muslim refugees and/or Muslim immigrants. Many of them shared personal achievements and the struggles they and their families endured to get here.

“Refugees are not a burden to Clarkston and they are certainly not a burden to America. In Clarkston, they have a 91% self-sufficiency rate within 180 days,” said Mayor Terry. “The current administration in the White House is deliberately cutting in half the number of refugees that will arrive in the United States in the next year.”

Other panelists and guest speakers included: Dr. Cedric L. Alexander, who serves as DeKalb County’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Public Safety; former refugee Aimee Zangan, who is a staff member at Lutheran Services of Georgia; Joshua Sieweke, Atlanta Office Director of World Relief; Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Executive Director of CAIR Georgia; J.D. McCray, Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee; former refugee and Muslim woman Fahkria Hussain, Congressional Action Team Member for UNICEF; and Paedia Mixon, New American Pathways CEO.