Written by Kenzie Kesselring, Opinions Editor

On Saturday, Oct. 25, there was an anti-Muslim protest in downtown Valdosta. The protest was organized by Joey Williams in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

The protest began at 11 a.m. and lasted about an hour and a half, and there were around 30 people in attendance.

“I went to Afghanistan to fight them over there. I don’t want Obama to give them a free ride to come here,” said Williams to the Valdosta Daily Times.

In response to the anti-Muslim protesters, Valdosta State students and professors went to protest the original protest, and support Muslims and diversity in America.

Many found out about the protest from flyers posted in downtown Valdosta saying “Rally Oct. 24, 11 a.m. stop the Muslin Invasion Lowndes Co. Court House” and then the flyers went viral on Facebook.

At the protest the anti-Muslim groups had signs saying “Keep them out! Muslim refugees.”

One of Valdosta State’s professors, Dr. Matthew Richard, was involved in organizing students and other professors to attend the protest in support of Muslim students and citizens in Valdosta.

“My initial reaction was sadness and worry for my friends in town,” said Dr. Richard. “I am an outsider myself in Valdosta and I’ve spent many a pleasant evening in the company of my Muslim friends here.”

Richard and Valdosta State students attended the protest and held American flags and signs saying “Blazers against bigots.”

“These kinds of dialogs need to happen regularly and throughout the community- not just on campus,” said Richard.

Overall, the protest was peaceful. There was some heated debates taking place between the differing sides, but no violence ensued. Bypasses in downtown were encouraged by some to call their congressmen in regards of not allowing Muslim refugees into America; while they were encouraged by others to embrace the diversity in Valdosta and respect all religions.