Twitter was in an uproar when news got out that British environmentalist John Stewart was barred from entering the United States to participate in the Aviation Justice Express tour.
Friends, strangers, elected officials, journalists, and even critics spoke out:
Heathrow campaigner, John Stewart barred from US. A heroic campaigner, and a gent. Utterly scandalous: http://t.co/E909Qwgu
— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) September 30, 2011
My friend,John Stewart, from our campaign against 3rd Runway was refused entry to US & questioned for 6 hours by FBI.Are we all banned?
— John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) October 3, 2011
There lose is our gain! C u on 2Oth Oct Environment Committee meeting on Heathrow Noise & Air Pollution,John Stewart. http://t.co/5JIaaUmF
— Murad Qureshi (@MuradQureshiAM) September 30, 2011
John Stewart of HACAN escorted off plane by armed guards in US @standardnews http://t.co/mXwaalrg <one of nicest campaigners ever
— Darren Johnson AM (@DarrenJohnsonAM) September 30, 2011
I have met John Stewart. He's hardly Osama bin Laden. Perhaps he's too reasonable for the US? <@RichardHebditch
— JohnBaldy (@JohnBaldy) September 30, 2011
Heathrow campaigner John Stewart: no criminal record, no direct action but quizzed for 7 hours by FBI and customs and booted out of country
— Ross Lydall (@RossLydall) September 30, 2011
You can measure a government by the people they ban:US just kicked out the UK's most effective environmentalist http://t.co/bjV96YNY
— Raj Patel (@_RajPatel) October 1, 2011
Crazy that a man known here as one of our most influential enviro campaigners, with no convictions, turned back from 'land of the free'
— Joss Garman (@jossgarman) September 30, 2011
US immigration bar anti Heathrow campaigner, John Stewart, completely outrageous and unjustified.
— david millward (@davidgmillward) October 1, 2011
Should add, personally I was in favour of third runway, but treatment of a peaceful campaigner is disgraceful.
— david millward (@davidgmillward) October 1, 2011
UK activist barred from entering the U.S. because he's spoken out (gasp) about civil disobedience: http://t.co/4XW2xmO1 (h/t @jenangel)
— Madeline Ostrander (@madelinevo) September 30, 2011
My friend John was met by armed guards on arrival to the U.S of A and is now being deported back to the UK. http://t.co/xugrxcJo
— the vacuum cleaner (@vacuumcleaner) September 30, 2011
Really quite extraordinary unprecedented & regressive action FBI banning UK Environmentalist Stewart from entering US: http://t.co/af1JH8fx
— Elan Durham (@europabridge1) October 1, 2011
Shocking that long time transport & aviation campaigner John Stewart has been barred from USA & put back on plane after 6 hours questioning
— Christian Wolmar (@christianwolmar) October 1, 2011
Proud of John Stewart & his campaigning. A humble, peaceful man. The US – drought stricken, flooded – in sorry state. http://t.co/DP3nFqG1
— Ann Pettifor (@AnnPettifor) September 30, 2011
We're shocked & sad to hear John Stewart (nice, bright, calm campaigner of @HACAN1) barred from entering the USA. News: http://t.co/qbYBjBR2
— GatwickCanBeQuieter (@GatCan) October 3, 2011
In the UK John Stewart is celebrated, in the U.S. he is interrogated, branded a terrorist and barred http://t.co/xjcXmUdB #planestupid
— Amanda *$ (@Starbuck) September 30, 2011
US bans John Stewart?! The most reasonable, pleasant chap you could hope to meet. That's why he's dangerous I guess. http://t.co/onjGe4h6
— Douglas Carnall (@JuliuzBeezer) October 4, 2011
Freedom of speech getting redefined by Obama about the same way Bush redefined it. http://t.co/pNyElwdo
— Timothy Colman (@goodnatureart) September 30, 2011
MT @garydunion John Stewart of HACAN ClearSkies deported at NY: http://t.co/BxYgGgnM > insane thing to do to a v.good guy HT @jossgarman
— James Wilsdon (@jameswilsdon) September 30, 2011
UK's "most effective environmentalist" barred from entering US for being too good a non-violent community organizer! http://t.co/yTxkUDyt
— Matthew Pike (@GMatthewPike) October 4, 2011
Apparently British environmentalists are too dangerous to be allowed into the country: http://t.co/nubBaY9W
— Aaron Swartz (@aaronsw) October 4, 2011
Shocked and appalled that John Stewart (Heathrow 3rd runway) has been barred from U.S- NO REASON GIVEN & slandered on Fox News. #environment
— Rosie Warin (@RosieWarin) October 3, 2011
Outrageous: John Stewart, UK’s “most effective environmentalist” barred from entering US http://t.co/CV8DqXm7
— Intrepid Report (@Intrepid_Report) October 1, 2011
The poison wore off, we are beyond their "normalcy bias"! UK’s “most effective environmentalist” barred from US … http://t.co/gC7nwiTa
— Reginald Cottle (@environmentaide) October 1, 2011
This is crazy – UK activist barred from entering the U.S. because he's spoken out (gasp) about civil disobedience: http://t.co/vWhKfgFM
— Gina Basteri (@fairiemom78) October 1, 2011
More of our growing police state to silence voices about climate control and the environment. WTF? http://t.co/3nnIV2H5
— AggressivePrgrssive (@aggsveprogressv) September 30, 2011
And Americans get angry that certain governments ban our citizens from entering their respective countries! The irony! http://t.co/qBdrJXQV
— The World Watch (@TheWorldWatch) October 3, 2011
Is America, land of free speech, trying to silence foreign #environmentalists by denying them entry? via @grist http://t.co/MNRAPujL
— Aagaard Farms (@aagaardfarms) October 3, 2011
“we used to laugh at the commies’…fear of dangerous intellectuals. These days the US government reminds me [of them]” http://t.co/F5QipqtL
— nemo (@nemo20000) October 4, 2011
This is is really terrible. We just ban people b/c they're planning on giving some talks? http://t.co/Vc1Uw359
— Saheli Datta (@SaheliDatta) September 30, 2011
http://ow.ly/6MiTu Top environmentalist from the UK has visa revoked by US. Why? Talk of peaceful civil disobedience. #WTFbureaucrats?
— Trase Passantino (@serenityacrenow) October 3, 2011
You can't just 'ban' environmentalists from entering your country USA! http://ow.ly/6KMmP Ok, just stick cotton wool in your ears eh?
— Miss Lyss (@BLYSS_choc) October 4, 2011
Why is America cracking down on non-violent civil disobedience? First the Wall Street protest antics, now this! | http://t.co/now8ouUh
— Martijn Boersma (@martijnboersma) October 4, 2011
Aviation Justice 
John Stewart Environmentalist of the year, a peaceful gentle man whom it is an honour to work with and call a friend.
Barred from America by authorities after being invited to the US for a lecture tour, so much for the hand of friendship across the sea with our closest allie, ok for the men and women of our armed forces to help them, but not a peaceful campaigner, are we suprised its just another example of US potty paranoia.
Posted by Barry & Dot Palmer | October 2, 2011, 12:30 pmWhat exactly is the US afraid of? John Stewart has worked tirelessly to protect the environment and was vital in our fight against the third runway, chiefly for all the behind-the-scenes support and links with other like-minded groups and politicians. Campaigns cannot be won if direct action is the only tool in the box. Citizens in “the land of the free” should be asking who will benefit from treating a decent, honest environmentalist like a terrorist.
Posted by Christine Taylor NoTRAG | October 2, 2011, 5:54 pmI totally agree with both the above comments. Having met John several times , he is a very good campaigner and I guesss big business in USA influences who is on the terrorist list.President Obama himself should look at this decision which is a total disgrace in what is meant to be the land of the free
Posted by E Dearsley | October 3, 2011, 4:55 amNot sure it is US responsible. Apparently leaked info suggests BAA put the US on red alert about RED JOHN
Posted by Pajama | November 10, 2011, 10:22 am