Hundreds gathered Thursday to march in solidarity for groups affected by recent policy decisions by President Donald Trump's administration, which has temporarily banned travel from select Muslim nations to the U.S. and tightened immigration restrictions.
The march was a collaboration between Hispanic American Student Association member Vanessa Meraz, members of the OU Muslim community and the Muslim Student Association.
Marchers chant "no ban no wall all for one and one for all" pic.twitter.com/YU8LMKmHh8
— mitchell willetts (@MitchBWilletts) February 2, 2017
Sociology senior Abdul Qadar is one of several students who reached out to MSA president Natasha Saya over the weekend and, with help from Meraz, were able to put the march together on short notice. Qadar said he felt it was important to take action on campus, ensuring that fellow students could hear about the effects of these policies from friends and classmates, not just from their newsfeeds.
"I hope this march brings awareness to what's going on, that Muslims and immigrants are being marginalized by this administration and just people in general," Qadar said.
Among those in attendance were J.D. Baker, Student Government Association president, Adam Soltani, the director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Oklahoma, and Imam Imad Enchassi, the chairman of Islamic Studies at Oklahoma City University.
Baker spoke at the march, saying, in part, that "we all have a responsibility" to stand against the immigration policies of the Trump administration.
"Some people, they think that this is a partisan issue. (But) this is not conservative, this is not liberal. This is not Republican, this is not Democrat. This is not left, this is not right, but this is about right and wrong," Baker said.
Soltani expressed concern over Trump's actions and the words and opinions conveyed by some who support them.
"In my line of work, I've been told a lot of things ... but one thing I can't handle, for me or for you, no matter where you're from, is to be told to go back home," Soltani said. "Because to be told to go back home is to be told that you do not belong here, that you are not a part of society, not a part of the American fabric, and that, I can't handle."
CAIR Director Adam Soltani:"The greatest threat is not foreign...it is our president." pic.twitter.com/ekwzWwNeY0
— mitchell willetts (@MitchBWilletts) February 2, 2017
He continued, speaking further about immigration and the oath that naturalized citizens must take.
"Those who become naturalized take an allegiance to our country to defend our country from all threats, foreign and domestic," Soltani said. "Well, I have a message for our president. The threat is not foreign. The biggest threat we face today is domestic, and it is our president."
Soltani promised to maintain his firm stance against the Trump administration and its practices, which he views as unethical.
"We will push forward with love, with compassion, with mercy," Soltani said. "But we will also stand strong, and we will not only exist, we will continue to resist."
Meraz said she hopes the march will have an impact outside of campus, and that neighboring communities will be inspired by the words and actions of Thursday's demonstration.
"I really want this march to reach the people that aren't here today, that maybe don't understand that these are human beings being affected by the executive orders," Meraz said.
March organizer Vanessa Meraz delivers closing remarks as the demonstration comes to a close pic.twitter.com/bB72iJTdJZ
— mitchell willetts (@MitchBWilletts) February 2, 2017
