Warwick students tell us what the protest against Trump’s policies meant to them

Hundreds of students protested against Trump’s Muslim travel ban at the University of Warwick today. We asked them what the protest meant to them.

Sahar, second year, Biomedical Sciences

Today meant a lot because as Muslims, we are being targeted left right and centre in almost every single country in the world, in the West and the East. It’s like we don’t have a safe space anymore and if we have political figures like Trump, Theresa May, not really doing anything for us.

I think as students it’s important for us to speak out and raise our voices. We’re young people, we’re the next generation. We’re at the forefront, we can’t stay silent. That’s why I think it was amazing that we had this protest today, to get our views out there and shared.

Ayaz, third year, Physics

I think it’s important to acknowledge that this was put together in less than 24 hours and to have this kind of turn out in such a short amount of time just shows how much emotion there is in the community here at Warwick.

How everyone wants to show solidarity with the Muslim community, against racism and Islamophobia, homophobia. It’s important that we shows this type of solidarity for people who won’t have their voices heard.

Georgia, second year, Modern Languages

I’m here today because I oppose the Muslim ban put in place by Donald Trump. I’ve been volunteering with Syrian refugees for over a year now and I want to spread the message that they have equal rights and they’re exactly the same as us. Their religion shares the same morals of my religion and I am completely disgusted by what this man has done.

Freshers Aris Adam and Tim Bliss, Law and Politics

Tim: We’re here to protest xenophobia, misogyny and everything Trump stands for. We’re representing the socialist alternative to whatever is being put forward in America. Bans on Muslims are just the start, there are easy comparisons to make with Hitler’s rise in the 1930s. It sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s disgusting what he’s been putting forward. It’s part of a symptomatic rise of the right in Europe and across the world.

Aris: We’re standing for human rights and protecting the refugees and the environment. We’re being human basically.

Harry, second year, English and Theatre

I’m here with Warwick pride, I’m here to show that there is solidarity between Britain and America, between queer people and Muslims and immigrants. That solidarity is always important in every aspect of your life and we should always fight against oppression no matter who you are and band together, because united minorities form majorities.

Bushra, third year, Politics and International Relations

I don’t even want to say as a Muslim, I want to say as someone who is in shock and horror about what’s happening in the US right now, everywhere in the world, the rise of the “Alt-Right” and everything. It meant to much to me that people came.

To just come, stand in solidarity and listen to people, to listen to Muslims, to people that can’t go to the US. Everyone here means it as well, I think everyone here will go on and be mobilised by this.

Anuradha Roy, third year, Politics and Sonali Gidwani, third year, PPE

We came to the protest because we are both women of colour, so we stand in solidarity to show our love and support for anyone who feels persecuted or oppressed by Trump’s actions.