Notre Dame Students Walk Out during Pence Commencement Address

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: May 22, 2017

Notre Dame Students Walk Out during Pence Commencement Address

As Vice President Mike Pence made his way to the stage to address graduates at the University of Notre Dame, dozens of students walked out of the ceremony.

According to Fox News, several graduates walked out before the vice president even started speaking.

"Even those who disagree with Mike Pence recognize him as a man of principle. I do as well," the administrator who introduced Pence said.

In a video of the ceremony, students walk out with their diplomas quietly but with stern looks on their faces. Pence didn’t acknowledge the graduates who leave and continues his speech. The audience both applauded and booed the exiting students.

“Of course we welcome and support free speech on campus,” said Luis Miranda, one of the graduates who walked out. “But commencement is not a moment for academic exchange or political dialogue. It’s a celebration of all of our hard work.

“I have family who are directly being affected by his policies, so I felt like I needed to stand up,” Miranda said. “And I think that’s what we all felt.”

Student group We Stand planned the graduation protest, which included about 100 students, for ND.

“If it was just five of us, we would have thought we were successful because we were doing the right thing,” Miranda said. “The fact that so many people showed up was mind-blowing.”

 

Photo couresy: Flickr.com

Publication date: May 22, 2017



Notre Dame Students Walk Out during Pence Commencement Address