(WASHINGTON)–Hundreds of protesters showed up outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday to support birthright citizenship as the court heard oral arguments on the Trump administration’s executive order to end it.
The order, signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, would end a longstanding legal precedent granting citizenship to anyone born in the United States. The order was immediately called into legal question and has never gone into effect following negative rulings by lower courts.
The case, titled Trump v. Barbara, was brought by plaintiffs including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Asian Law Caucus and the Legal Defense Fund.
“This is core to the Constitution and who we are,” Juan Proaño, the CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), told Capital News Service. “The president doesn’t have the authority to change the Constitution with a Sharpie.”
Proaño and his organization were plaintiffs in the first lawsuit brought against the executive order.
Critics of the executive order say the Trump administration is contradicting the 14th Amendment, which states that, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
Dan Schmitt, 67, dressed as Revolutionary essayist Thomas Paine, took issue with the executive order and the president’s ability to quickly revise long-standing legislation.
“You can’t use an executive order to change the Constitution, there’s rules for that. And you go right over to there …” Schmitt said, gesturing to the Capitol, “… and you ask them to change the law or to amend the Constitution. You don’t just decide to do something.”
The sounds of Celia Cruz, Whitney Houston and Bad Bunny blasted amid the hot spring day as organizers passed out waters and led chants. Micaela Pond, founder of We of Action Virginia, said the energy outside the courthouse was defiant.
“I’m not going to say we’re not angry, of course we’re angry, but we’re also committed,” Pond said. “We are not going to stop fighting for our beliefs, for our Constitution, and to save democracy.”
Organized by the ACLU, the rally drew several different local activist groups, including Make the Road New Jersey, We Are CASA and UnidosUS. The rally also brought in many locals. D.C. resident Shelley Smith was drawn to the protest by her anger over the Trump administration’s immigration policies.