Around 100 people rallied in the Shapiro Courtyard on Thursday to protest against a UCLA School of Law professor who opposes affirmative action.

The rally, hosted by the Black Law Students Association and several other student organizations, protested Richard Sander, co-founder of the anti-affirmative action group Students Against Racial Discrimination, which sued the UC on Feb. 3. In the lawsuit, he accused the UC of using affirmative action – which has been illegal in California since 1996 – in its admissions practices, discriminating against Asian American and white applicants.

[Related: Lawsuit filed against the UC alleging illegal use of affirmative action]

President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders eliminating diversity initiatives since entering office. Many universities – including the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan – have closed or renamed their offices dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion to comply.

UCLA’s EDI website was live as of 2:23 p.m. Saturday. However, the UC announced in March that it would no longer consider diversity statements in its hiring process.

[Related: UC announces elimination of diversity statements in hiring processes]

Students gathered in the Shapiro Courtyard to hear speeches given by students from the UCLA School of Law. The students chanted, “Whose University? Our University,” and, “When we stand up, we get power. When we get power, they get scared.”

Malik Marshall, a law student who led the rally, said in a speech that California passed Proposition 209 – which made affirmative action illegal in the college admissions process – to “erase” Black students.

Noah Massillon, a law student at UCLA, said in a speech that students of color at UCLA have historically helped build the university’s name. He called on UCLA to stand in opposition to the repression of diversity programs across the country.

“What we’re doing is essentially rejecting Richard Sander and his position on campus as well as all that stands behind that – all of the racist repression,” Massillon said in an interview with the Daily Bruin.

Brendan Wong, a law student at UCLA, said in a speech that Sander’s lawsuit seeks to drive a wedge between Asian American students and other students of color to serve his personal agenda.

“To all Asians and Asian Americans, I want to encourage you to think about who truly has our best interests in mind and who is using us and weaponizing our identities,” said Wong, the social chair of the Asian/Pacific Islander Law Students Association at UCLA. “I urge you to speak up, to speak up for our communities and for others.”

Shilpa Panicker, a law student at UCLA, said in a speech that she believes Sander’s motives are connected to a right-wing political agenda to attack diversity. The legal team behind SARD includes America First Legal, a group founded by Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, she said.

Panicker added that the lawsuit and the dismantling of DEI programs is a political strategy designed to prevent students from underrepresented groups from succeeding in higher education.

Following these speeches, demonstrators passed out flyers reminding students of their constitutional rights if they encounter officers from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Jorelle Trinity, a law student at UCLA, said she attended the rally to stand in solidarity with fellow students who disagree with Sander’s actions. She added that she hopes other students recognize DEI initiatives are not a shortcut to education.

“Diversity is only an enriching aspect of our society, of our culture and of any industry, any school,” said Trinity, a member of the BLSA. “To challenge that, to claim that any efforts to correct a lack of diversity is racial discrimination, it’s really heartbreaking.”