Postville resident tells courthouse rally, "I was a refugee"

(Photos by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott)

Tuesday evening's rally in Decorah against President Trump's ban on immigration from seven Arab countries drew an enthusiastic crowd estimated by those participating to be around 600 people.

People attending the rally in front of the Winneshiek County Courthouse waved signs and banners and cheered a number of speakers.  One of the speakers was Postville resident Abli Ali.  He told the gathered crowd that he came to America five years ago as a refugee from Somalia.

Ali said he is a citizen now and added, "I love this country."  He also pleaded for support of people who want to come live in the United States, concluding his speech by saying, "Refugees are like you and me."

Postville resident Abli Ali (Click on photos for larger images)