Over 200 people gathered at the Rhode Island State House to protest the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a respected healer and doctor in the community. Alawieh’s phone was seized at the airport, and she was questioned about photos of Hezbollah leaders and fighters on her phone. Despite deleting the photos out of precaution, she was detained and told she would not be allowed to reenter the United States. Protestors, including organizers, community members, and students, demanded her release and criticized the criminalization of entire communities and countries by the government and media.
The protest also highlighted the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestine activist who was arrested by ICE. Speakers at the protest emphasized the impact of Alawieh’s deportation on patients and the community. Healthcare workers, including doctors from Brown University, attended the protest, expressing solidarity and concern for the vulnerable patients who relied on Alawieh’s specialized care.
Lawyers who had filed a petition on Alawieh’s behalf withdrew from the case, leading to changes in the legal proceedings. The judge granted her lawyer additional time to prepare their response, while the government requested the petition to be dismissed. The protest underscored the ongoing fight for justice and the need to stand up against injustice and discrimination in the current political climate.
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