Since the Trump Administration issued executive orders banning immigration and refugees from predominantly Muslim countries the Statue of Liberty has become an embarrassing icon of America's past that the present does not live up to. The famous inscription at its base, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," has become a cruel anachronism. As represented by Trump's orders, the most honest representation of our national attitude toward immigrants would be a shroud, cover, or veil over Lady Liberty. It would convey the message that American liberty is currently "under construction," and simultaneously relieve Lady Liberty of having to see the shameful practices going on.

As has been reported by the Washington Post, this and other misguided executive orders come from the fascist, racist minds of Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, and possibly Trump himself. Bannon certainly has no business being inside the White House advising the most powerful person on the planet or on the National Security Council. The American conception of liberty is in grave peril so long as Bannon has a White House appointment. The 'Muslim Ban' is also unfortunately just one aspect of a larger change to immigration laws. The New York Times reports Feb. 22 that Trump is accelerating deportations drastically with a set of measures that should alarm any American. Thanks to Federal Judge Ann M. Donnelly of Brooklyn, part of Trump's executive order was blocked on Jan. 28, but the second attempt at a Muslim ban unveiled March 6  shows that the Trump administration will continue threatening refugees in an unbecoming, un-American way.

We the undersigned hope the mayor of New York City and Park Service will cover the statue, in hopes that such a powerful protest will speed the time that American policies once again live up to the promise the Statue represents. The very fact of these orders being issued is an insult to the idea of American liberty. The Statue should be covered not only until the ban is officially rescinded but until Trump and his xenophobic, fascist administration is removed from power.