Actor Kal Penn has raised more than $500,000 for Syrian refugees after launching an online fundraiser over the weekend.

Penn also served as an associate director in former President Obama’s White House Office of Public Engagement. Penn, whose parents are Indian, responded to an Instagram commenter who told him he didn’t “belong in this country” by launching the fundraiser Saturday and asking followers to donate to it in the commenter’s name.

Penn calls it “a beautiful way to resist” President Trump’s order to suspend immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Penn starred in TV’s “House” and in the “Harold & Kumar” films.

—From news services