Some Liberty University graduates return their diplomas in protest of Falwell's support for Trump

Some Liberty University graduates are returning their diplomas in protest of school president Jerry Falwell, Jr.'s support for President Donald Trump.

According to NPR, a growing group of graduates is now preparing to return their diplomas to the school, following Trump's remarks about the white supremacist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"I'm sending my diploma back because the president of the United States is defending Nazis and white supremacists," Chris Gaumer, a former Student Government Association president and 2006 graduate.

"And in defending the president's comments, Jerry Falwell Jr. is making himself and, it seems to me, the university he represents, complicit," he added.

Trump has been widely criticized for his comments blaming "many sides" for the violence, as well as his statement in which he claimed that there were "very fine people on both sides."

Falwell came to Trump's defense the next day with a tweet praising the president's statement and adding, "So proud of @realdonaldtrump."

On Tuesday, the university issued a statement, saying it supports the students' right to express their opinions, but also criticized the tactic of returning diplomas.

"The tactic of returning diplomas has been used by students of many other schools to draw attention to various causes, but let's also remember that those same diplomas are quite helpful in helping these graduates secure well-paying jobs," the statement read.

A group of alumni has prepared a letter to be sent to university officials, in which several graduates declare their intention to return their diplomas and call on Falwell to repudiate Trump's comments.

Georgia Hamann, a 2006 alumna and an attorney in Phoenix, Ariz., who helped write the letter, urged the university to "return to its stated values and accept that the pursuit of power is leading it into some dark places, and really repudiate that."

Those who are not able to find their diplomas are advised to sign a group letter or write individual letters to Falwell expressing their concerns.

Falwell was one of the earliest evangelical leaders who endorsed Trump in January 2016, when many conservative Christian leaders were expressing concern about the billionaire's multiple marriages.

He also received criticism from many students and alumni when he first endorsed Trump during the Republican Primary season.

Falwell, however, is not the only evangelical leader who continues to stand by the president despite widespread criticism. Multiple members of Trump's evangelical advisory board have recently issued public statements condemning white supremacy, though most have stopped short of criticizing the president by name.