Over 100 Muslim-Americans and immigration supporters held a Friday prayer at JFK in solidarity against President Donald Trump's executive order to restrict travel into the U.S.
"Muslims and Arabs are not statistics; these are people and individuals," participant Hadiya Abdelrahman said at the airport.
The week-old measure blocks citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
The New York Immigration Coalition organized the interfaith prayer outside Terminal 4.
Some people worshipped on the floor, while others stood to form a human barrier around them.
"I myself am the daughter of refugees. My parents came here in the aftermath of the Vietnam War," participant Diana Dihn said. "Just think if they came to an America like this."
Several speakers also took the stage at the event, including a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor.
"I stand with today's refugees and immigrants, and demand a reversal of the executive orders, which are unjust and not reflective of our country's soul," Holocaust survivor Suzanne Loebl said.
Trump has repeatedly defended the executive order, saying we need stronger borders and vetting.
If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
An organizer told NY1 that the inclusion of people from all walks of life is what makes America so special.
"I think that what we are doing is really showing that we are all what makes America. All of us together, New York's diverse communities, it's valuable that what makes up this country and what makes it great is actually the diversity," said the organizer.
"We are all what makes America," organizer Thanu Yakupitiyage said. "All of us together — New York's diverse communities — it's valuable."
The event was part of a nationwide effort by the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations to push communities across the nation to hold similar vigils.
The campaign is called #WeAreAllAmerica