SAN ANTONIO – More than 200 people waved signs and chanted in Main Plaza Sunday, protesting against President Donald Trump's immigration ban and other policies.
The demonstration came on the heels of Trump's first week in office, which included numerous executive orders, including one banning citizens of seven majority, Muslim countries from entering the United States. Organizers said the event was not focused only on the ban, but rather an "all-encompassing rally."
As speakers addressed the crowd, the overarching theme emerged as different groups banding together in the face of an administration they mistrust.
"This community does not accept being divided along religious, racial or national lines," said Jonathan Ryan, the executive director of RAICES, an immigrant advocacy group.
From the signs carried by the crowd, the immigrant ban was clearly at the forefront of many minds.
Wearing an American flag head scarf, Zainab Hassan said the ban was what brought her and her children out, all of whom had "Muslim" written on their foreheads.
"I mean, that's part of our religion too," Hassan said. "Whenever anything is wrong with any group or any religion or any race, just stand up and speak your piece; speak your voice."
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Also in the crowd, John D. Ryder, a veteran visiting the city, held a sign against the ban too.
"I didn't fight for this," Ryder said. "I didn't fight for a gross violation of all we hold dear."
Other signs called attention to issues like undocumented immigrants or just being generally against Trump's ideologies. Speakers called for the crowd to support each other.
"If Muslims make up one percent of the population of the United States, by ourselves we can do nothing," Ahmad Kaki told KSAT after addressing the crowd. "We require the solidarity of our immigrant friends. We require the solidarity of our Hispanic friends, our black friends, our LGBT friends and so on and so forth."
Ryan said RAICES had attorneys at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport helping detained travelers. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas also said it had attorneys at DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.