Students at numerous New York and New Jersey universities walked out of class Wednesday, joining a national student protest of Donald Trump’s election.
At New York University, hundreds of students gathered in front of the fountain at Washington Square Park at noon, as part of a national campaign to "create a massive resistance against Donald Trump" and to support immigrants.
"Regardless of our administration's response, this right here is creating a culture of support," protest co-organizer Hannah Fullerton said.
The walk out, organized by immigrant rights campaigners Movimiento Cosecha, rallied students around the country.
The organization called for students to make their campuses a #SanctuaryCampus for immigrants, and to protest in support of the cause.
"We are already seeing students rise up on our own-- but we must create national solidarity to create a massive resistance against Donald Trump and to demand permanent protection, dignity, and respect for all immigrants," it said.
At least five New York and New Jersey universities saw students planning to take part in the walk out.
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The list included New York University, Columbia University, Rutgers University, Montclair State University and New Jersey City University.
The national call was for the event to start at 3 p.m. in most cases, however New York University students started earlier.
"It's just nice to see solidarity, and I think people are wondering what they can do and what's the next step and how we can become a nation that's proud of its diversity and not divided because of it" NYU law student Sarika Arya said.
The events mirror several other school walkouts nationwide.
On Monday, hundreds of students decrying Trump's election walked out of schools in Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle and Silver Spring, Maryland, after a weekend in which thousands of people demonstrated around the country and scores were arrested.
Among other things, the demonstrators have condemned Trump's behavior toward women and his stand on immigration and civil liberties.
"I think a lot of us are feeling like the election last week was almost like a declaration of war on our bodies" Arya added.
Trump has argued the protests across the nation have been “incited by the media,” but also acknowledged the demonstrators “have a passion for our great country.”
