LOOK: Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally brings hundreds to Civic Center Park

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The full-time activist known as “Queen Phoenix” or Dezy led the event. The Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally at Civic Center Park, Feb. 4, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) march; protest; muslim neighbors; civic center park; copolitics; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite;

The full-time activist known as "Queen Phoenix" or Dezy led the Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally at Civic Center Park, Feb. 4, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

In another round of protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban, hundreds of people showed up to Civic Center Park on Saturday to support Denver's Muslims at the Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally.

The demonstration was organized by local activist Queen Phoenix, aka Dezy, and featured the voices of refugees, immigrants and the allies fighting to help them.

The Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally at Civic Center Park, seen from the Denver Public Library. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

It came on the heels of news on Friday that U.S. District Judge James L. Robart entered a temporary, nationwide stop to the president's order and the State Department said that the previously banned travelers will now be allowed to enter the U.S.

The Civic Center Park amphitheater is full. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The Civic Center Park amphitheater was full to the brim, but the rest of the park was not occupied.

Nearly every bit of audience real estate in the amphitheater has been occupied. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

At 3:34, those in attendance who needed to take part in Islam's afternoon prayer, the Asr prayer, did so. Over the course of a half hour the audience shifted to the right as prayers moved to the left, creating a large worship space.

Below is a series of speeches from the beginning of the event just after 1 p.m.

The rally was the most visible event in a day packed with civic engagement in metro Denver.

A town hall meeting held by Rep. Diana DeGette drew close to 1,000 of her constituents eager to discuss Trump's executive orders and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Her office said her forums usually only draw 200 to 300 people.

Brena Adams and Eric Martin sititng in a tree. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Outside Sen. Cory Gardner's empty office in downtown office, more than 100 people rallied to urge him to vote against Department of Education nominee Betsy DeVos.

And an Aurora Sentinel reporter was surprised to find about 50 people at a Saturday morning town hall meeting.

Kevin J. Beaty contributed to this report.


More on the Denver reaction to the travel ban (and more photos)
Naiyallynne Johnson (right) and Sydney Ammar stand on stage. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
John Munson (right) and Zahra Abdulameer stand in the ampitheater. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
District 8 Representative Leslie Herod on stage. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
District 8 Representative Leslie Herod. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
People hold up signs and fists. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
The Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally at Civic Center Park, Feb. 4, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Hassam Hashim holds up the Sudanese flag with his mother Rehab and sister Selma. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Afternoon prayer. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Afternoon prayer. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Nadeen Ibrahim leads the rally. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Ted Campbell holds up a peace sign. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Manual High School Student Body President Tay Anderson speaks on stage. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
The Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally at Civic Center Park, Feb. 4, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
The Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally at Civic Center Park, Feb. 4, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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