Dozens of students at Grand Forks Central High School wore black Tuesday and gathered at the gymnasium after classes let out to protest the travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries by the Trump administration.

"We're a high school with young kids and (in) a red state, so a lot of them only are exposed to very Republican things," said junior Maia Jackson, who organized the demonstration. "So I think it's important to include them and say even though you have been in this environment of intolerance, you can still be against things that are discriminatory."

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Jackson said she got the idea to organize the demonstration last week after seeing photos of a similar event at a high school in Ohio. She said she spread word of the demonstration in person at school and that she hopes photographs of the event will circulate on social media and encourage others to speak up.

"Even if this is so little, even if it's just a picture and some people see it, that means it's doing something," said Sean King, another student at the demonstration.

Students said the demonstration was not necessarily intended to protest President Trump or his supporters. It was more about standing up for their beliefs, they said.

"People should just get active and do stuff," King said. "When people voted, it was good that they either voted for Trump or for Hillary (Clinton). People should vote and people should take part in what's going on."

The gathered students held signs reading "Refugees welcome" and "No ban, no wall." They remained largely silent as other students came to watch and snap pictures.

"None of this has anything about Trump on it," Jackson snapped at a male student who began chanting "Trump! Trump! Trump!" at the group.

The students said since the travel ban has been temporarily lifted, they also intended the demonstration to send a message of support for immigrants and refugees living in Grand Forks.

"I just want people to know that not all white people feel this way," said sophomore Haley Parker, who came to the U.S. from Turkey. "There's people everywhere that care."

Senior Micheala Dale, who recently turned 18 and voted in the presidential election, said she was happy to see younger students expressing their opinions despite not being old enough to vote.

"Knowing that I can speak out (and) make action happen but the younger kids can't, I'm really proud that they're making their opinions known and knowing what's coming for the future and knowing what we can do as minors," she said.

Jackson said she does not intend for her activism efforts to stop with the demonstration. She said she called Sen. Heidi Heitkamp's district office to thank her for speaking out against the travel ban. She said she also plans to call Sen. John Hoeven's office to ask him to show support for refugees.

"I understand that he and Heidi, they represent a red state," Jackson said. "But it's also to the point (of) 'country over party.' "