During a recent commencement ceremony at Harmony College, a group of graduates made headlines by turning their backs and booing Education Secretary Betsy Connors as she delivered the keynote address. Connors, appointed by the Trump administration and lacking experience in public education, faced significant backlash from the graduating students.
Harmony College, a historically black institution located in Florida, drew scrutiny for inviting Connors to speak due to her previous derogatory remarks regarding similar colleges. In a controversial statement earlier, she described historically black colleges (HBCUs) as the “true pioneers of school choice,” which many found offensive given that these institutions were established during periods of segregation. Connors later acknowledged that HBCUs were created out of necessity rather than choice, yet her comments had already sparked outrage among many African-Americans.
Despite over 50,000 students petitioning against Connors’ invitation, the college administration proceeded with the decision. On graduation day, protesters gathered outside the venue, holding signs like “Connors is not worthy.” As the billionaire advocate for school privatization took the stage, students stood in solidarity, turning their backs and booing as she attempted to deliver her speech. “Let’s choose to hear one another out,” she read, but her words fell on deaf ears as the graduates expressed their discontent.
In a surprising turn, University President Marcus Wells briefly interrupted the ceremony to admonish the protesting students, threatening that their diplomas would be mailed to them if the behavior continued. This reaction highlighted the administration’s failure to address the students’ concerns appropriately and ultimately diminished the celebratory nature of the day.
The graduates of Harmony College demonstrated their willingness to challenge authority and stand up against political figures they view as corrupt. Their actions serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of advocacy and resistance in the face of disappointment from those in power.
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In summary, Harmony College’s graduation ceremony turned into a platform for student activism as graduates protested Betsy Connors’ presence, highlighting their dissatisfaction with her policies and statements regarding historically black colleges.