AUSTIN — Days after President Donald Trump unveiled a travel ban on citizens from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations, thousands of people gathered in Austin on Tuesday for Texas Muslim Capitol Day, the biannual event's largest crowd yet.

“We stand here in the year of 2017 at a dangerous time for our country and for our state, and I say that with regret,” said Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin, the legislative sponsor of this year’s event. “So while I am troubled by the turmoil, I am heartened by the resistance.”

Muslims from across Texas gathered at the Capitol’s south steps and were surrounded by a human chain of volunteers, who were prepared to protect participants from protests similar to those that erupted at the same event in 2015. Organizers initially said they were expecting at least 500 attendees, but the crowd Tuesday morning was about four times larger.

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“In all the years, we’ve never seen the sea of supporters that we see today,” said Alia Salem, the executive director of North Texas’ chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which organizes Texas Muslim Capitol Day.

Tensions were high ahead of the gathering, not only because of Trump's executive order, but also because of a fire at the Islamic Center of Victoria, said former Rep. Lon Burnam, who helped launch the first Texas Muslim Capitol day in 2003.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett read a statement from the Democrat outside the Capitol that expressed outrage over recent violent incidents against Muslims.

“I am deeply troubled by what happened at the almost completed Islamic Center of Lake Travis at the beginning of this month and, most recently, to the mosque in Victoria,” Doggett said in the prepared statement. “With you, I mourn the loss of life at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center. I, too, am outraged and appalled by President Trump’s unconstitutional, un-American anti-Muslim immigration order.”

The event drew protests in 2015, the first time since its inception in 2003 that it caused hostility at the Capitol. There was a single protester standing outside the boundaries of the human chain on Tuesday, but volunteers sang over his shouted warnings of the dangerous teachings of Islam.

“All we are saying, is give love a chance,” they sang.

Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, told the crowd she was prepared to stand up for what is right and “speak out when our American values are at risk.”

“We are witnessing unprecedented normalization and legalization of discrimination, and we will not stand by and let this happen,” she said. “Our country was founded on religious freedom, and we need to be sure that it continues to be a country where all people can practice their religions without being threatened.”

1 / 13People gather as the national anthem is sung during a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.((Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer)) 2 / 13People stand arm in arm at a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Braynt / Staff Photographer) 3 / 13A crowd gathers for a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.(Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 4 / 13Hiba Loya and Donia Kased both of Houston as the national anthem is sung during a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 5 / 13A woman holds up a sign during a Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 6 / 13A crowd gathers for a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 7 / 13Terri Stinson of Austin closes her eyes as she attempts to tune out a person against the rally taking place during Muslim Capitol Day in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.(Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 8 / 13Victoria Neave of Texas House District 107 speaks during a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 9 / 13People gather during a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 10 / 13A crowd gathers for a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 11 / 13Naheda Khan and daughter Meherina Khan, 18 of Houston clap as they cheer for America during a press conference at the steps of the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 12 / 13Nuzhat Hye thanks people as she leaves the press conference at the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer) 13 / 13Nuzhat Hye thanks Kate Painter as she leaves the press conference at the Texas Capitol during the Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally in Austin on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.(Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer)

Some local mosque leaders Tuesday were visiting the Capitol for the second time in a week after attending Thursday's homeland security forum hosted by Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg.

The forum to gather information for "defending against radical Islamic terrorism in Texas" was held a week after Biedermann's office sent a poll to Muslim leaders asking them to reject institutionalized Shariah, pledge to protect those who have left Islam and declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

"Our liberties and our borders must both be secure," Biedermann said of what he expected to be the focus of Muslim Capitol Day. "A secure border is not just good, but necessary for both immigrants and citizens of a thriving democracy."

Despite friction between Biedermann and leaders with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Salem thanked him.

“I would like to thank Kyle Biedermann, and I would like to thank President Donald Trump,” Salem said. “They are the ones whose actions have inspired you to be here today, and I am grateful to see that hate can turn into absolute love.”