While local officials were encouraging residents to take part in a Kindness Blitz in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, some UNC students chose to peacefully protest by walking out of class during the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

One State One Rate, a campus group fighting for UNC – Chapel Hill to grant in-state tuition to undocumented students, organized Friday’s walkout.

A Facebook post by the group announcing the walkout asked “students, faculty, administration and allies” to participate in order to “show solidarity with all students who will be affected by the Trump administration.”

The group criticized Trump for what they described as “anti-immigrant, homophobic, sexist, and hateful” attitude toward different groups.

“We hope to make UNC a sanctuary campus that not only supports students regardless of their citizenship status, but that is also a safe space for people from all different identity groups,” the post read.

UNC – Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt issued multiple letters to the campus community in the immediate aftermath of the election. Folt wrote that she wanted to “assure everyone that the values that this great university upholds have not changed” since the election.

UNC System President, who has previously expressed support for granting undocumented students in-state tuition, also issued a statement on Friday.

“The University of North Carolina is committed to being a welcoming and supportive environment,” Spellings said. “While we cannot control federal policies, I will continue advocating greater opportunity for our students based on my deep conviction that a better-educated state benefits all of us.”

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