Around 50 people gathered outside the state capitol in Des Moines to rally against Governor Terry Branstad’s order blocking Syrian refugees from settling in Iowa. The event’s organizer, Samantha Thomas, is the executive director of Global Arts Therapy….
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Brenda Schumann (SHOO-man) held a homemade sign which included the words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.” Schumann said she believes the screening process for refugees is already extensive, and doesn’t think people should be fearful that refugees coming to Iowa are secretly terrorists….
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After the Paris terrorist attacks, Branstad ordered all state agencies to stop any work on settlement of Syrian refugees. But, the governor recently said he would be “more willing” to accept refugees, if a bill before Congress to tighten the screening process becomes law. On Monday, a group of Iowa Clergy submitted a letter to Branstad, condemning what they call “discrimination” against Syrian refugees “on the basis of religion.”