Dozens of students at the United States’ University of Notre Dame walked out of their own graduation ceremony in protest over their commencement speaker, Vice President Mike Pence.
On Sunday local time, as the Vice President approached the podium, students from the Catholic university in northern Indiana rose from their seats and silently filed towards the exits.
In his speech to the students, the Vice President slammed a “noxious wave” of political correctness sweeping college campuses, praising Notre Dame as an island in a “sea of conformity” and increasing intolerance for opposing views.
“While this institution has maintained an atmosphere of civility and open debate, far too many campuses across America have become characterised by speech codes, safe zones, tone policing, administration-sanctioned political correctness – all of which amounts to nothing less than suppression of the freedom of speech,” he said.
“These all-too-common practices are destructive of learning and the pursuit of knowledge and they are wholly outside the American tradition.”
In a press release, protesting students slammed the Vice President and former Indiana Governor for repressing the LGBT+ rights, attempting to ban Syrian refugees and supporting hardline immigration policies.
“The participation and degree-conferring of VP Pence stand as an endorsement of policies and actions which directly contradict Catholic social teaching and values and target vulnerable members of the University’s community,” Notre Dame undergraduate Xitlaly Estrada said.
Valedictorian CJ Pine, an Arabic and Peace Studies graduate, also delivered a speech to fellow students – one which appeared to be littered with references to the Trump administration.
“Our generation must stand against the scapegoating of Muslims,” he said on stage with the Vice President.
“It is precisely in response to the suffering of Syrian refugees, fleeing war, that the arms of Jesus outstretched on God Quad call for a courageous response.
“If we are going to build walls between American students and international students, then I am skewered on the fence."
