Over 100 students at Notre Dame chose to stand up—not in applause—but in silent protest during Vice President Mike Pence’s commencement speech this past weekend. As Pence took the stage, these graduates respectfully exited the ceremony, voicing their dissent against his policies and beliefs.
Traditionally, Notre Dame, a Catholic university, invites the newly elected President to deliver the commencement address. However, after a petition signed by more than two thousand students and faculty urged university president Rev. John Jenkins not to invite Donald Trump, the invitation was extended to Pence, who previously served as Indiana’s governor.
The protest was coordinated by a student group called We Stand United. They aimed to conduct their demonstration with the utmost respect, coordinating with campus police and administrators beforehand. Paul Browne, a representative for Notre Dame, expressed confidence in the students’ ability to protest peacefully, saying, “We’re not concerned… We think they will be respectful in the way they express their differences with the administration.”
In a press release, the group outlined their reasons for the walkout, highlighting Pence’s actions against the civil rights of the LGBT+ community, his support for Trump’s travel ban, his opposition to sanctuary cities, and his rejection of the Syrian refugee resettlement program. “All of these policies have marginalized our vulnerable sisters and brothers for their religion, skin color or sexual orientation,” the group stated. Their intention was to stand in solidarity with those who face discrimination while remaining respectful of differing viewpoints.
Though Pence did not directly address the students who walked out, he criticized certain college campuses for implementing speech codes and safe spaces, claiming they suppress free speech. “Far too many campuses across America have been characterized by speech codes, safe zones, tone policing, administration-sanctioned political correctness all of which amounts to nothing less than the suppression of the freedom of speech,” he said