2 FEBRUARY 3 - FEBRUARY 9, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Jaime DeJesus Brooklynites, led by Borough President Eric Adams, rallied Monday in opposition to President Trump’s executive order barring entrance to the U.S. to people from seven Muslim-majority countries. Brooklynites respond to President Trump's travel ban with rally BY JAIME DEJESUS [email protected] At least two Brooklynites have been impacted by President Donald Trump's executive order that bars citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, and borough residents responded by protesting in opposition to the policy. A large group joined Borough President Eric Adams outside the United States District Court – Eastern District of New York, 225 Cadman Plaza East, on Monday, January 30, and rallied in support of City University of New York (CUNY) student Saira Rafiee, who has been denied reentry into the U.S. despite having an F1 visa. Rafiee, a Prospect-Lefferts Gardens resident and Ph.D. student of political science had been visiting her family in Iran during her winter break before she was denied entry into the states. “We are here because she is representative of the countless number of students who are in a state of limbo and uncertainty,” said Adams, adding that approximately 120 CUNY students could be impacted by the executive order. Although Rafiee’s cousin Mina was slated to speak on behalf of her relative, Adams explained that she was fearful of doing so. “She feels as though if she shows her face in this climate, she would somehow be prevented from moving forward with her dream of participating in the American dream which has turned into an American nightmare for those of the Muslim faith,” he explained. Rafiee was about to check in at the airport when Donald Trump signed the executive order banning people from Iran and six other countries from entering the U.S. "I got on the flight in Abu Dhabi, but at the airport I was told that I would not be entered in the U.S.," she said in a statement. "I had to stay there for nearly 18 hours along with 11 other Iranians before getting back on a flight to Tehran. I have no clue whether I’ll ever be able to get back to the school I love so much or to see my dear friends there.” “You heard the quality of her thoughts and generosity, even in her own moment of extreme need, thinking of other people,” Barbara Bowen, president of the Professional Staff Congress for CUNY, said. “You see how united we are in fighting for the simple right of someone who has been thoroughly vetted and has a visa, simply to resume her studies. It is an outrage.” “Our message is a simple one: You cannot set us against immigrants because that is who we are,” added Hercules Reid, student president at City Tech. “This is especially true for CUNY students. You cannot look at the faces of the nearly half a million students of CUNY without seeing the faces and stories of millions around the world. We are calling on Congress to reverse this executive order.” Besides Rafiee, Crown Heights resident Dr. Kamal Fadlalla, who works at Interfaith Medical Center and who is from Sudan, another country included in the executive order, has also been prevented from returning to the U.S. KORILLA BBQ TO OPEN IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN A favorite food truck vendor is moving into MetroTech. Korilla BBQ, a South Korean food company known for its fusion specialties such as burritos, spicy pork rice and kimcheese fries, has just signed a 10-year lease for a brick-and-mortar restaurant at Forest City 2 MetroTech Center. Parked at MetroTech since 2015, the Korilla truck has been on the rise since winning "Rookie of the Year" honors at the Vendy Awards in 2011. The eatery will be Korilla’s second location outside of the East Village. —Danielle Kogan BROOKLYN CYCLONES ANNOUNCE NEW BROOKLYN BACKYARD PICNIC AREA The Brooklyn Cyclones are offering a new way to view the ballgame in Coney Island this summer. The Brooklyn Backyard is a new picnic area that brings fans closer to the game by allowing them to watch the Cyclones play through the outfield wall at field level in MCU Park. Fans can relax on comfortable patio furniture, get a cold drink from the tiki bar, and play games of shuffleboard. You cannot have a picnic without food, and the Backyard Barbecue menu includes traditional ballpark fare, like burgers and hot dogs, as well as picnic favorites such as cole slaw and potato salad. The Backyard BBQ package is available for groups of 20 people or more. Picnic pricing is $30 (bleacher ticket) or $35 (Field Box ticket) for adults and $20/$25 for children 12 and under. Groups can reserve tickets for the Brooklyn Backyard by calling 718-37-BKLYN. —Patrick Weinberg MALLIOTAKIS NAMED STATE DIRECTOR OF THE NFWL Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis has been named New York State Director of the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL). The aim of the NFWL is to empower female elected leaders and to provide resources to these women for leadership development, networking and state outreach among other efforts. In her role as state director, Malliotakis will serve as a point of contact for women who are elected officials in New York, as well as to bring them the opportunities that the NFWL provides. Malliotakis will hold the position through the end of 2017. —Patrick Weinberg
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