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HAZLETON — They came from across U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta’s district — from Tunkhannock, Forty Fort, Allentown and Dallas.
Approximately a dozen people took a stand in a parking lot near Barletta’s office Wednesday afternoon, urging the representative to pull support for the presidential executive order banning people from seven countries from coming to America.
“We’re telling Lou (Barletta) his stance is wrong,” Cathy Paninski, of Hazleton, said as she stood on the corner of Church and Broad streets.
Joe Czarnecki, of Dallas, feels the immigration ban, Supreme Court nominee and other actions by President Donald Trump over the past 12 days, have shown Trump is not worthy of being president.
He hopes Trump resigns before he’s impeached.
“I’m afraid he’s going to have too much power,” Czarnecki said. “It’s important to us to protest for our views.”
Barletta, who was not at his office in Hazleton during the protest, agreed with Czarnecki’s right to make his voice heard.
“The First Amendment is a wonderful thing as people have the right to express their opinions in a respectful manner,” Barletta said in an email.
But that was as far as Barletta went in agreeing with the dozen protesters who stood in a parking lot while several speeches were made.
“I happen to disagree with their interpretation of President Trump’s executive order,” Barletta, R-Hazleton, said. “I believe it is reasonable and responsible to protect the people of the United States from terrorists who have said they will try to infiltrate our refugee and immigration system.”
Forty Fort’s Susan Heckman said Trump’s staff and supporters are “following him blindly” and that causes her “grave concern” for the country.
“My family has been here for seven generations,” she said. “But they all came from somewhere.”
Heckman said she wasn’t surprised at Barletta’s choices as they remembered his time as mayor of Hazleton. He made national headlines for his efforts opposing illegal immigration in Hazleton, vowing to make the city “one of the toughest places in the United States” for illegal immigrants.
Chris Synder came from Allentown as a representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Synder works with the UFCW’s citizen program.
“My ancestors would be rolling in their grave,” he said. “This country is built on immigration.”
The protesters were met by seven Hazleton city police officers, police tape and barriers. Chief Jerry Speziale said Czarnecki, who is with Action Together Northeast, had passed him a flyer announcing the protest. Czarnecki also had anticipated up to 200 people.
“I didn’t want mayhem,” he said about the police presence.