Students from one of America’s most influential evangelical Christian universities are returning their degrees in a show of protest against their president’s steadfast support for Donald Trump.

The alumni from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia have condemned Jerry Falwell Jr for applauding President Trump’s response to violence in Charlottesville earlier in the month. President Trump prompted outrage for drawing a parity between white supremacists and anti-fascists.

Falwell Jr has been an unwavering supporter of Mr Trump since the early days of his 2016 presidential campaign. He wrote on Twitter he was “so proud” of Mr Trump for his “bold truthful” statement on the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville which saw neo-Nazis, KKK members and “alt-right” members clash with counter-protesters and three people killed.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

​

Falwell did later label white supremacists, Nazis, and other hate groups as "pure evil and un-American.” He wrote on Twitter: “The truth as stated by Donald Trump is that violent white supremacists, Nazi, KKK and similar hate groups are pure evil and un-American.”

Falwell then repeated his support for the US president during an appearance on Fox & Friends on Monday morning, saying: “President Donald Trump does not have a racist bone in his body. I know him well”.

“He loves all people. He’s worked so hard to help minorities in the inner cities… He’s doing all the right things to help the people that are in need, the minorities.”

His praise for Mr Trump did not go unnoticed, with the president tweeting that Falwell had been “fantastic” on the show in response, saying: “The Fake News should listen to what he had to say. Thanks, Jerry!”

Former students at the university have now come out and condemned Falwell’s perceived affiliation with President Trump. More than 260 people have joined a Facebook group called “Return your diploma to LU”.

“Falwell's unabated support of Donald Trump's presidential campaign and his actions as president have filled us with shame and anger as alums,” they said.

“Yesterday, Falwell doubled down on this support in the wake of Trump's many and varied statements, equivocating on what ought to have been unequivocal condemnation of racism, antisemitism, white supremacy, nationalism, anti-LGBTQIA, ableism, and neo-Nazism.”

They added: “Falwell not only failed to condemn these things which are patently against the religion he and LU claim, but continued to cheer on Trump and his administration. In doing so, he has placed himself squarely in support of the kinds of ideology that were expressed by the protesters brought to Charlottesville by Jason Kessler.”

The alumni said they would be returning their diplomas to Falwell’s office by September alongside letters explaining their reasoning for withdrawing support. They have already penned letters to his office and to the Board of Trustees calling for him to be removed from his position.

After a woman was killed when a car smashed into a crowd of anti-fascist protesters in Charlottesville, President Trump took two days to condemn the KKK and neo-Nazi protesters.