University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee students, faculty and staff gathered Thursday at the Spaights Plaza, 2380 E. Kenwood Blvd., to protest an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that indefinitely bans Syrian refugees from entering the country, suspends entry of all refugees for 120 days and bans anyone traveling from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen from entry for 90 days.

A district court ruling last week temporarily suspended the ban, a decision that a federal appeals court declined Thursday to overturn.

Protest organizers said the executive order harms the citizens of the seven Middle Eastern countries, including those legally residing in the U.S. on student or worker visas, by preventing them from coming back if they visit family in their home countries, and preventing their families from visiting them here.

The rally was one of dozens held concurrently at universities across the country.