Students at in-state university are protesting after a political leader has been asked to speak at commencement. Lt. Governor and Gubenatorial candidate Pam Evette has been announced as the Spring Commencement speaker at South Carolina State University.
Students at the HBCU have protested Evette's appearance to speak at commencement. Many of them have voiced issues with Evette's stance on eliminating DEI programs. However that stance seems to have shifted as political opponents claimed that Evette has ran a business that promoted and profited from DEI.
Regardless, nearly 9,000 people have signed a petition calling for Evette to be removed from speaking at the event. Evette is still standing firm and says she still plans to speak at commencement.
Evette released a social media video responding to the situation saying "Let’s be clear: facts trump feelings in the real world. President Trump and conservatives have done more for HBCUs than any administration in history. I must be doing something right because ‘woke mobs’ are coming after me like a champion of eliminating radical DEI scams on college campuses, so bring it on".
