Two very different visions of America emerged in the cold in downtown Lancaster Saturday afternoon over the Syrian refugee issue.

Rallies for and against refugees ended up in a peaceful — though sometimes punctuated by loud shout-downs — face-off on busy East King Street.

At noon, a group of about 30 people gathered outside the Lancaster office of Church World Service at 308 E. King St. for a series of speakers who warned of the dangers of letting refugees from war-torn Syria into the U.S.

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Church World Service is a refugee resettlement service. Three Syrian families have been relocated in Lancaster County so far with at least two others on their way.


About 250 pro-refugee men, women and children soon showed up from a counter-rally in Musser Park and formed a block-long queue just on the other side of King Street.


Leaders for both rallies urged non-confrontational behavior and for the most part that was the case as participants let their many signs do the talking.
Those who want to see more Syrian refugees come to Lancaster County carried placards with such slogans as “We Are All Refugees,” “Welcome Refugees — Proud Lancaster Tradition,” “Compassion, Not Fear, Love, Not Hate,” and “Bigots Go Home.“


Across the street, amid waving American and Tea Party flags, signs read, “Aiding A Foreign Invasion is Treason,” “Keep Syrians Out,” “Remember Paris” and “No Sharia Law In America.”


One brief moment of solidarity surfaced when the anti-refugee rally started singing “God Bless America” and refugee supporters quickly joined in.
America is not being compassionate by bringing to its shores Islamic people who are not tolerant of other religions and homosexuals, said Dan Gray, a Schuylkill County resident and rally organizer.


“Sharia law is fundamentally incompatible with the Constitutional laws of the United States,” Gray said. “Syrians are not refugees. Bad things are happening there but we don’t have the space to take in everyone who had bad things happen to them.
“You want to help Syrians? Help them over there.”

Donna Merritt, a Berks County resident and Patriotic Liberty League member, said Syrian refugees are not being vetted thoroughly and there are very real possibilities that the Islamic State can infiltrate U.S. communities.


The federal government should be devoting money to needy U.S. residents such as veterans and the homeless before foreigners, she said.


Comparing Islamists to Nazis, Gray scolded Gov. Tom Wolf for not siding with the majority of governors in the U.S. in striving to halt further resettlements until better vetting checks are in place.


“Gov. Wolf has the duty to protect American citizens,” Gray said.


Ashley Ruhl, 26, of Lancaster, likes to consider herself in the majority when it comes to Lancaster County residents’ eagerness to accept refugees.


“We want to foster a more welcoming and peaceful environment so the refugees feel more welcome,” Ruhl said before the rally marched to King Street.
Added Colin Chadwick-Cruz, 26, of Lancaster, “They deserve to feel human and welcome like anybody else.”

 

Kevin Ressler of Lancaster, one of the rally organizers, said Syrian refugees follow a long script of immigration to the United States that “made us, as a people, so beautifully diverse.”

Added Peter Schwabe-Fry, 56, a Lutheran pastor from Lancaster, “We are proud to have (Syrian refugees) in our community. It’s not only a loving thing to do, it’s also part of our American heritage.”

There was a strong police presence at the rally but they only had to intervene a couple times, warning people in shouting matches on opposite sides of the street to not spill into the street.

Organizers for both rallies had urged participants to be peaceful and respectful, and only engage in private conversations to make views known.

But pro-refugee participants sometimes drowned out speakers on the other side of the street with chants such as “We want refugees!” and “We are all refugees,” and once, “Boring!”

That prompted one flag-draped man on the other side of the street to turn and yell, “You are all traitors.”

The event ended after nearly three hours with some civil dialogue between the sides.

After the event, Sheila Mastropietro, Lancaster office director of Church World Service, issued this statement: "The actions today by a small crowd outside the CWS Lancaster office are unacceptable, and stand in contrast to everything that we hold dear as Americans.  Those touting anti-refugee bigotry and hate will never speak for our community, as was clear by the hundreds of counter demonstrators lining E. King Street, and South and North Shippen Streets holding signs espousing welcome and hospitality for newcomers.

"The United States, and Lancaster County, has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees who have fled persecution and war.  By supporting refugees in the Lancaster community, we at CWS affirm the moral fortitude of past generations of refugees and individuals who have welcomed refugees into their neighborhoods and homes.

"CWS is committed to providing refugees of all faith traditions the opportunity to begin a new life after years of persecution and tragedy. Since our founding nearly 70 years ago and continuing today, we have been witness to thousands of congregations, individuals and organizations reaching out and stepping up to welcome refugees. The callous and hateful actions of a few individuals in no way represent the caring and true community that Lancaster continues to be for us all."

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