A couple of months ago, Gilly Graham ’17 said she never would have attended a protest. That soon changed when she saw the results of the Women’s March on Washington on Saturday Jan. 21. After watching the international protest that involved nearly 2.6 million people, Graham vowed not to pass up another chance to speak her mind.

Her opportunity came on Sunday, Jan. 29 when protesters gathered at Detroit Metro Airport to protest Trump’s newly established executive order to ban citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The policy was implemented to bar citizens from countries that have been linked to terrorism, a maneuver to initiate President Trump’s policy of extreme vetting, CNN reports. Protesters, including Graham, and her two friends Rozzie Vern ’17 and Hadley Griffin ’17 drove to the airport to voice their opinion.

“I went to the airport because I feel very strongly about this issue and I wanted to do something about it. I heard about the protest on Facebook and I wanted to go,” Graham said.

The effects of the newly instated policy rippled through the nation as well as abroad as nearly 218 million people were banned from entering the country this past weekend, consequently wreaking havoc on airports nationwide, CNN reports.

USA Today reports that the result of the order is mass confusion. One hundred and nine people were reported to be detained at various airports across the country, unable to leave due to the order. Meanwhile, protesters have gathered to various airports all over the country to protest what they believe is a discriminatory and xenophobic policy.

Detroit Metro Airport tweeted at 5 p.m. this past Sunday to allow extra time in heading to the airport, due to the heavy traffic.

“The #DTW Public Safety team thanks @womensmarchimi for working with us to ensure today’s demonstration is organized and peaceful”, tweeted the official Detroit Metro Airport Twitter.

The #DTW Public Safety team thanks @womensmarchmi for working with us to ensure today’s demonstration is organized and peaceful.

— DTW Airport (@DTWeetin) January 29, 2017

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Graham said the overall atmosphere of the protest was calm.

“Most people had signs and everyone was really nice to each other,” Graham said. “It was very peaceful. The police officers were saying ‘thank you for being peaceful’. It was all of our first time protesting and it went really well. There was a lot of positive energy in the airport.”

Vern said it was inspiring to be able to get out and get involved in making a difference.

“There was a very diverse group of people, and we were all supporting each other and and it was really positive,” Vern said.

President Donald Trump has since defended the executive order, stating it was put in place to decrease the threat of terrorism.

“This is not about religion. This is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order,” Trump said in an NBC report.

Graham said the policy stems from underlying fear of foreign groups.

“I think it’s wrong to be afraid, I don’t think there’s anything to be afraid of. The only thing we have to be afraid of is Trump dividing us,” Graham said. “Banning immigrants is not going to end terrorism. It might just make it worse.”

Vern said that the real victims are people entering the country and we should be helping, not mistreating them.

“The people who are really getting hurt by all this aren’t terrorists, because they are trying seek refuge from the terrorists, so we shouldn’t shut them out,” Vern said.

Graham said she feels strongly about this issue because of the history of the United States.  

“We are a country founded by immigrants and America would not exist without them. And I believe that we should continue to let them into our country,” Graham said. “It all comes from hate and fear. That’s what started all of this.”

Griffin argues that history repeats itself, and while America is praised as a land of opportunity, the country has repeatedly persecuted incoming generations of immigrants.

“Even in the past, people came to America with the idea that streets were paved with gold, but we as Americans don’t see that because we’re used to that. We have the resources to bring these people in and give them a better life,” Griffin said.

Graham said she still believes in the American dream, but in order for it to still live on, people must accept others.

“I would say to everyone: just take a look back at your family history. Your grandparents and great grandparents were immigrants, so why not let future generations continue to be immigrants,” Graham said.

Looking back at her first time ever protesting at a demonstration, Graham said she is inspired to get involved.

“I don’t know if this going to impact Trump at all, but I do know it’s going to affect millions of people, and that is way more important than impacting one person,” Graham said.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Photo courtesy of Gilly Graham '17

Protestors gather at DTW to protest against Donald Trump's anti-immigration executive order.

As of this past Saturday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised $10 million and gained 150,000 new members in response to the executive order, CNBC reports. ACLU filed a lawsuit Saturday to challenge the policy.

Vern said that the demonstrations that have sprouted up all over the nation the last couple of weeks have not only impacted the nation, but the protesters themselves.

“I think it’s really important because it’s getting the next generation of voters ready, because we’re all getting inspired to make a difference (in light of the election) and feel so strong about these various topics,” Vern said.

Graham said she encourages all people who haven’t gone out and protested to go out and get involved, no matter what political affiliation they may have.  

“And to those who have participated in this movement, I just want to say thank you,” Graham said. “But I’d also like to ask you, what are you going to do next? Because this isn’t just going to end here.”