Holding a sign saying, "I am banned from seeing my family," adorned with a photo of painted, conjoined hands, Saba Mortazavi, graduate student in landscape architecture, marched with her family and future in mind.
Mortazavi is originally from Iran. She was seen marching up and down the Haley Concourse on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017 for her right to stay in the United States.
"We are students here and we are banned from going back to our country and our family can not come here to visit us," Mortazavi said. "It's difficult. I wish they would make a better decision or make it better."
Screaming "Love trumps hate," Amanda Dukes, senior, marched with sign in hand protesting what she felt was an unconstitutional ban on immigration. Referring to the banned countries as "our brothers and sisters," Dukes said it was important to march on campus in order to stand for the immigrant students currently attending Auburn University.
"The potential of the wall and continuing to keep immigrants out of country, we believe is the opposite of what America stands for in it's inclusiveness, it's industry and it's habit of moving forward," Dukes said.
Sarah Grace Kirkendall, sophomore in exercise science, said the main take away from the protest was the desire for peace.
"It has nothing to do with race or religion," Kirkendall said. "It's about withholding American values about being a melting pot."
Carter Neighbors, senior, said he believes the march was a complete waste of time. Neighbors interpreted the executive order as a terrorism prevention mechanism, not a Muslim ban. Neighbors said he supports immigration reform and the executive order wholly.
"[The protest] doesn't really do anything but delay us from getting to class and wasting our time," Neighbors said.
Christian Hummel, freshman in media studies, said it would be hard for protesters on Auburn's campus to get their message across because of the University's historically conservative ties.
"I understand why they're upset," Hummel said. "I get that, but doing it here on a conservative campus is not going to get a message across. You see Berkley, a big left-wing area, and it's very understandable."
Though the group of protesters represents a campus "minority," Hummel said he has no problem with them voicing their beliefs.
"I respect that," Hummel said. "What they're doing here isn't bad. They can get their point across and I'm not going to go in and try to rile them up."
Mortazavi said she was alright with the protest, but in the end, she wants there to be love in America.
"We come here to see a greater country than what we have, but now I don't know," Mortazavi said.
Mortazavi said she wishes people wouldn't rely mainly on Fox News. She said her people are like any other and should be treated as so.
"You should see the picture of my country," Mortazavi said. "I don't know, people should find the right information and that will be justice for my country."
Kirkendall said she saw former classmates she'd attended a conservative high school with. When asked if they'd be surprised to see her protesting, she said no.
"My opinions have always been out there," Kirkendall said. "I've always been more progressive than the people I was around. They know. They know that I would do this kind of thing."
The protest took place during SGA and Miss Auburn campaigns. Kirkendall said before the candidates realized they were beginning a protest, they tried handing out campaign push cards.
"Honestly they're more likely to get my vote if the people out here supporting them are chanting with us," Kirkendall said. "I'm more likely to think they're a candidate with better ideals."
Hummel sported a "Make America Great Again" hat and said growing up in a military family opened his eyes to social and political differences abroad.
"I do support the ban, yes," Hummel said. "I grew up in a military family. My parents were in the military, so I know what it's like to be overseas and what goes on overseas."
The ban is meant to put American citizens' safety first, Hummel said, and he believes the president is correct in doing so.
"I believe that for 90 days if we try to get ISIS under control and get what's happening in the Middle East under control, I don't see an issue with not letting people in until we realize the safety of our citizens is what comes first," Hummel said. "I understand that we're a country that goes out and we help people. We're the ones that have to be a safety net for people, but I believe that Trump believes the safety of our citizens is the priority, and I respect that. I believe that's what it should be also."
In regard to this ban having the potential to make America a target for an ISIS attack, Hummel said their hatred is not solely toward the US.
"The people they [ISIS] have been fighting in Syria are also Muslim, so it's not just their hate against us," Hummel said. "They also hate, for some reason, another type of Muslim. I could see how they could want to attack us more, but it's also not just us. They've attacked Muslim nations because other people don't agree with their side of the religion."
Hummel said those green card holders detained at airports over the weekend were stopped purely as a safety precaution.
"It was to be safe more than anything," Hummel said. "They were still allowed back in the country, so it's not like they were kept overseas. They should be allowed back in and I'm glad they were, but in the beginning it was just a safety precaution."
Alan C., a student and protester who chose not to provide his full name, said he was pleased with the turn out and seeing the Auburn community band together.
"I think the general message is that we should accept everyone," Alan said. "No matter race, color, gender, or what country you're from. I think it's good that students are coming together for this cause and it's good that we're getting a media presence. No matter what political stance, republican or democrat, we can all be together on this issue."
Jessica Ballard, copy editor, contributed to this story.
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