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May 11, 2017

Education Sec. Betsy DeVos Graduation Speech Met by Boos at Historically Black College
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Education Secretary Betsy De Vos was repeatedly booed and heckled
Wednesday when she addressed graduating seniors at Bethune-Cookman
University, a historically black college in Florida. Many students
turned their backs on De Vos.

Education Secretary Betsy De Vos: "Dr. Jackson, Board of Trustees, thank
you so very, very much for this great honor and privilege. I am honored
to become a Wildcat. And it's a real honor and privilege to be with you
as we celebrate the Bethune-Cookman University Class of 2017."

As the booing of Betsy De Vos grew louder, school President Edison
Jackson interrupted her commencement address to issue a warning to
students.

Edison Jackson: "If this behavior continues, your degrees will be mailed
to you."

Despite the warning, many students kept booing with their backs turned
to De Vos. More than 60,000 people had signed petitions opposing the
selection of De Vos as commencement speaker at Bethune-Cookman
University. De Vos was widely criticized in February when she said
historically black colleges and universities are "real pioneers when it
comes to school choice." HBCUs were established because black students
were prohibited from attending public colleges and universities
throughout much of the United States's history.


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