At Bethune-Cookman University’s commencement ceremony, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos faced a powerful display of dissent as graduates turned their backs and booed her loudly. DeVos, a controversial figure with no prior public education experience, was met with strong opposition from the students who felt her presence was inappropriate given her past comments about historically black colleges (HBCUs).
BCU, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, is a historically black institution, and many found it shocking that DeVos was invited to speak. Earlier this year, she made headlines by stating that HBCUs were the true pioneers of school choice. This statement understandably offended many, as these institutions were created during a time of segregation out of necessity rather than choice. After backlash, DeVos acknowledged that HBCUs were born out of “necessity, in the face of racism,” but her prior comments continued to resonate negatively with the audience.
Despite more than 50,000 students signing a petition against her invitation, the university’s administration decided to proceed with her appearance. Activists gathered outside the venue to protest, with signs reading messages like “DeVos is not worthy.” As the billionaire who advocates for school privatization took the stage, graduates stood in unison, turning their backs in a show of defiance while loudly booing her attempts to address them.
“Let’s choose to hear one another out,” DeVos began, reading from her speech. She claimed to be committed to the success of every student across the nation. However, her words fell on deaf ears as the students made it clear they were not willing to listen. University President Tom Anderson attempted to intervene, warning the graduates that if the protests continued, they would receive their diplomas by mail instead. It was a surprising turn of events, given that graduation day is supposed to celebrate students, not create conflict.
In a day meant for celebration, these graduates stood firm in opposition to a figure they viewed as emblematic of policies that undermine public education. This powerful moment serves as a reminder that it’s crucial to speak out against those in power, reinforcing the idea that activism and integrity are timeless values.
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In summary, the graduation ceremony at Bethune-Cookman University became a platform for students to express their disapproval of Betsy DeVos, highlighting the importance of standing up against policies perceived as harmful to education.