Ariana Maia Sawyer

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Thousands turned up at a vigil to express support for Tennessee immigrants and refugees at Coleman Park in Woodbine on Wednesday evening.

The statewide event, called "We All Belong" and organized by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, also was created to denounce President Donald Trump's recent executive orders temporarily banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, suspending the Refugee Resettlement Program, punishing so-called sanctuary cities and authorizing the construction of a southern border wall.

Syrian refugees are barred indefinitely.

Immigrants, refugees and community leaders took turns speaking on a platform raised above an enormous candlelit crowd.

One speaker, Dima Sbenaty, said her parents left a corrupt government in Syria to come to a place where they could enjoy more freedoms — including that of religion — and be given better opportunities.

"Islam taught me to give back to you what you gave to me. As a Muslim, it is my obligation to you to be strong, to uphold justice and to protect your rights," she said. "That is how America raised me."

Sbenaty said the so-called "Muslim ban" is an insult to her family and faith and is unquestionably discriminatory.

But supporters of the executive orders say the measures will keep Americans safer.

Trump reaffirmed his decision Sunday on Twitter: "Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world — a horrible mess!"

And U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., lauded Trump's order as "responsible," saying that U.S. intelligence agencies need time to "ascertain the scope of the Islamic terror threat in order to develop proper refugee vetting protocols — if possible."

Jamie Westerhoff, a Davidson County native, said the executive orders go against American values.

"I just came to support my Nashville neighbors," she said.

And Faris Altamami said he came to stand with fellow Nashvillians too.

"God created all the people as one," he said. "I hope for no ban and no wall."

Altamami, now a U.S. citizen, has lived in Middle Tennessee for the past 25 years, ever since he came as a refugee from Baghdad during the Persian Gulf War, he said.

According to Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director at TIRRC, there were 3,500 people gathered in Nashville. The crowd nearly filled the park off Antioch Pike and Thompson Lane, and a steady stream of people continued to pour in throughout the event.

Metro police estimated at one point that there were 1,500 demonstrators and said everything went well.

The event included translation services in Somali, Arabic and Spanish, as well as voter registration tables.

About 2,000 people came to the Memphis vigil, about 1,500 in Chattanooga, over 1,000 in Knoxville, about 600 in Murfreesboro and 200 in Sewanee, Teatro said.

Reach Ariana Sawyer at asawyer@tennessean.com and on Twitter @a_maia_sawyer.