Just over 30 years ago my family and I arrived in England as refugees. We fled war torn Cambodia, trekking through the jungle with my elderly grandmother who had to be carried, dodging bullets as we reached the border to live in a refugee camp in Thailand. We were there for almost three years before finally being able to come to England. If we had stayed where we were, there’s no doubt we would have died.

This is the situation Syrian refugees find themselves in as they try to escape their war ravaged country as US President Donald Trump has placed an indefinite ‘travel ban’ on their entry to the US.

Refugees from other nations are not permitted to enter the US for the next 120 days. After this date, they can only enter the country if they are on the list of counties the US has okayed. All other immigrants or visa holders from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen are unable to enter the US for the next 90 days.

Vocal protests at US airports attack Donald Trump's executive action

The only exception to this rule is if a refugee is a “religious minority” who is being persecuted in their homeland. Essentially, Christian refugees are ok, but Muslims can think again about trying to enter the US.

The Trump administration is framing the executive order as a security measure, titled “Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals”, but it is worth bearing in mind that no one from the seven countries on the banned list has been responsible for a terror attack on American soil. This ban is not rational, it is racist.

Last night an invite began to circulate on my Facebook feed for an Emergency Demo against Trump’s #MuslimBan and UK complicity. Marches are scheduled to take place in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Manchester. Some of my white friends have clicked interested, but few have confirmed that they will join me on the march. For all of their moaning in the pub and political rants online, they are slow to actually stand up against Trump.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The response from our own government has been equally as reticent. Prime Minister Theresa May failed to condemn the policy, while other world leaders were quick to censure. Her reserve a clear message that the UK is willing to forgo any moral purpose for the sake of a post-Brexit trade deal with the US. Later a spokesperson confirmed that Downing Street does, “not agree with this kind of approach”. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that it was, “divisive and wrong to stigmatise because of the nationality”. Still, Trump is due to visit the UK, despite a petition to stop his state visit reaching 1m signatures. So why are my friends not willing to stand up and show that they stand on the right side of history unlike our government?

Evil happens when good people to do nothing. Don’t be a good person that does nothing. White friends, lending your voice to this is one of the most important things you can do. Just because it doesn’t directly affect you doesn’t make it OK. Refugees are your doctors, taxi drivers, colleagues and friends and you have to stick up for them.