The Statue of Liberty was once an emblematic sight to those looking for better lives, for themselves and their families, as they left their homes and native countries and traveled to the land of opportunity.

With one fell stroke of a pen, though, that same land of opportunity has now become a land of exclusion and exclusivity.

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring the acceptance of Syrian refugees and strictly limiting through intense vetting measures refugees from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. Trump’s reasoning behind signing this order was to “keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America.”

What Trump is parading around as an act and measure of national security is nothing more than a thinly-veiled cover-up of his racism.

While his stance on immigration should be nothing new for those who followed his campaign even slightly, there is still a sense of shock surrounding the fact that it has been allowed to happen.

Trump’s discrimination and hatred toward a group of people is the likes of which we have not seen since World War II.

U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan also tweeted Friday, “On this #HolocaustMemorialDay, we remember the millions of innocent lives lost, and pledge #NeverAgain.” The irony of this remark would be almost laughable, were it not such a scary prospect that “never again,” was in fact happening right now.

Philosopher Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is that good men do nothing.”

We cannot allow this presidency to go down in history as one that is looked back on in a textbook, with students sitting in stunned shock, wondering how it could ever get to this point. We as a nation, we as citizens, must stand together and not allow this evil to triumph.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board.