Over 100 students staged a walkout during Vice President Mike Pence’s commencement address at Notre Dame this past weekend, leaving their seats in silent protest against his presence and the policies he represents. Rather than applauding, these graduates chose to stand up for their beliefs.
Traditionally, Notre Dame—a renowned Catholic university—invites the newly elected President to deliver the commencement speech. However, after more than two thousand students and faculty signed a petition urging university president Rev. John Martin not to invite former President Trump, the invitation was extended to Pence, who previously served as Indiana’s Governor.
The protest was coordinated by a student organization called We StaND For, which aimed to conduct their demonstration in a respectful manner. Paul Browne, Notre Dame’s spokesperson, mentioned to CNN that the protesting students had communicated their plans with both campus police and administration prior to the ceremony. “We’re not worried,” Browne stated before the graduation. “We believe they will express their views in a respectful manner.”
In a press release, the student group articulated their reasoning for the protest, highlighting Pence’s efforts to undermine the civil rights of the LGBT+ community, his endorsement of Trump’s travel ban, his opposition to sanctuary cities, and his rejection of the Syrian refugee resettlement initiative. “These policies have served to marginalize our vulnerable siblings based on their faith, ethnicity, or sexual orientation,” We StaND For declared. Their objective was to express solidarity with those who face oppression without disrespecting differing viewpoints.
Although Pence did not address the students who exited during his speech, he expressed disappointment regarding the increasing trend of colleges adopting trigger warnings and regulating hate speech disguised as free speech. “Many campuses across America are becoming known for their speech codes, safe spaces, and administration-sanctioned political correctness, which ultimately suppresses free speech,” Pence remarked during his address. If this comment was intended as a jab at the protesting students, it was ineffective; they were not present to hear it.
The First Amendment guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, which these students exercised by notifying the university of their intent to protest in a manner that minimally disrupted the commencement ceremony. This act is not a sign of students being “politically correct” or “liberal snowflakes” but rather a demonstration of democracy in action.
Pence was the final speaker of the event, and those who walked out were not permitted to return, causing them to miss the traditional tassel-turning ceremony that signifies their graduation. Regardless, it’s evident that these students learned invaluable lessons about courage and standing up for their beliefs during their time at Notre Dame.
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In summary, over 100 Notre Dame graduates walked out of Pence’s commencement speech in a peaceful protest against his policies, highlighting their commitment to civil rights and social justice.