Betsy DeVos Sparks Protest At University Of Baltimore Graduation

BALTIMORE, MD — Dozens of graduates at the University of Baltimore commencement ceremony stood up and turned their backs in protest Monday when Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos delivered the main speech of the event.

A mixture of boos and applause rose from the audience as the secretary approached the lectern. DeVos spoke of the importance of not letting the loudest voices define the conversation as attendees rose in protest.

"The natural instinct is to join in the chorus of conflict, to raise your voice louder, to promote your profile and ostracize others,” she said, according to the Baltimore Sun. “Too many assume that those who are the loudest are leaders and those who stay quiet are followers. But we will not solve the significant and real problems our country faces if we cannot embrace this paradox of silence."

About 10 minutes into her remarks, nearly 50 people were standing and silently facing the back of the theater. The group was mostly African-American and included some of the approximately 375 graduating students and a handful of their relatives. One of the students silently raised a fist as he turned his back on DeVos.

Kerrin Smith is a 26-year-old graduate student at the University of Baltimore. She said she was "shocked and disappointed" by the choice of DeVos as commencement speaker, citing what she describes as the Trump administration's "strangling of public education."

Debbie Kohl, an associate professor in the University of Baltimore's college of arts and sciences, was among about a dozen faculty members wearing academic robes while protesting DeVos outside the theater. She said many of her fellow professors believe DeVos "represents policies and standpoints that are antithetical to the job we do here for our students."

Others in attendance joined the student's protests, including a faculty member and others in the audience, as Talia Richman of the Sun reported.

The decision to invite DeVos to speak at the graduation drew widespread denunciations in September.

Thousands signed a Change.org petition in a show of opposition after the announcement. In addition to stating that they will not support the decision for the education secretary to speak at the school, those who signed the petition said they would not donate money to the school.

Critics of DeVos have objected to her advocacy in favor of charter schools and school choice, which many believe harm the public education system. They also have criticized her rollback of Obama-era rules on university policies regarding sexual assault.

University of Baltimore President Kurt Schmoke sent a letter to the student body explaining why he believes DeVos is a good choice as speaker. Schmoke is a former mayor of Baltimore.

Ahead of the speech, University spokesman Chris Hart had said there were security plans in place to "ensure that the day is enjoyable for our graduates and their families and friends."

William Pierre, who earned a bachelor of science degree on Monday, was one of two graduates who stood and raised a fist in protest. He said students were "very puzzled" by Schmoke's decision to honor DeVos as speaker.

"He has a right to make that decision. And we have a right to protest that decision, and we exercised that right," Pierre said as he waited with fellow students to pick up his diploma.

The Associated Press and Elizabeth Janney contributed to this report.

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