Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have the constitutional right to peacefully protest and express concerns about university speakers whose views conflict with the institution's values and history, as demonstrated when South Carolina State University students successfully removed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette as their commencement speaker due to her opposition to DEI programs and her perceived misalignment with the university's legacy of fighting segregation.
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Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette Removed As SC State Commencement SpeakerAdded:
Lieutenant Governor Pamela Ebott was scheduled to be the commencement speaker at South Carolina State University dropping the clues bombs for SC State University. Damn it. But the students of SC State University said, "Man, watch out." Okay, let's go to CBS 10 for the report, please.
>> Well, honestly, she just doesn't align with our values here at South Carolina State University. Um, she speaks against DEI, which every HB.CU, honestly, every school benefits from. Student government leaders and seniors saying their concerns focus on whether the speaker reflects the values of the university community. During a press conference Wednesday morning, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Avette says she was invited months ago and plans to deliver a positive message.
>> The the college called and asked if I would be their commencement speaker uh and was happy to do that. I'm always happy to share a positive message. She also called to end diversity, equity, and inclusion. But she also pushed back on criticism, pointing to what she calls a broader issue on college campuses.
>> We have to get rid of DEI on college campuses.
>> We've got to get rid of indoctrination by professors on college campuses by ending tenure.
>> Uh she's no longer the commencement speaker. And I have zero problem with this. Okay? Why? Because commencement day should be all about the students.
Okay? That's what commencement ceremonies are for, to celebrate the students, their accomplishment of graduating. It's about reflection for the students, closure for the students, and most importantly, recognition of their academic journey. Okay.
Commencement ceremonies honor the hard work of students, the uh the personal sacrifices of students, and the achievements of the students who are now graduates. And it's also an opportunity for families and loved ones to share in the pride of the moment. That moment does not need to be overshadowed by someone who is in opposition to the values that these students believe in.
Okay. Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett has publicly opposed DEI programs. That's her right as an American. But who in the hell would invite someone who is against DEI to speak at an H.B.CU. Okay. Pamela, I don't know if you know, but when the Trump administration attacks DEI, they are attacking H.B.CU and H.B.CU students as well. Okay. Because without DEI, HB.CU aren't insured funding for infrastructure and student programs.
Their access to top employers are halted. Uh basically, DEI initiatives help, you know, close these gaps that exist in regards to access the opportunities for these black students.
Not to mention, they combat systemic racism in hiring and education. All that progress black people have made rolled back because of your boy. And you are in public opposition to DEI programs. Okay.
That that that attack H.B.CU. BCU, but you want to come speak at an H.B.CU.
That makes no sense to me. Also, SC State University President uh Alexander Kany, why would y'all want that? Okay.
Like, her views don't politically align with the school's history. They don't align with SC's mission. They don't align with the history of Orangeburg. Do I have to remind you of February 8th, 1968 when students from SC State and Claplin were protesting segregation and and and after days of demonstration, law enforcement confronted those students and let off shots, opened fire on a bunch of unarmed students, the Orangeberg massacre, those protests were organized by SC State students. Okay?
same spirit of those kids who were out there protesting segregation in ' 68.
That was the same spirit that we saw the past couple of days protesting against Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett in 2026. Maybe that's what President Kany was trying to say when he was speaking yesterday because he seemed to be concerned about how the students of SC State would be perceived. Let's listen.
We can't pull back what's out on social media. We can't pull back what people think. But I certainly don't want people to think that the students here at South Carolina State University, future educators, doctors, lawyers, attorneys, scientists, business owners are thugs.
>> I've made the decision to rescend the invitation to the lieutenant governor to speak at your commencement.
>> In light of the history in Orangeburg, I can understand the trauma that he may be feeling. I don't want to speak for him, but it sounds like something like the Arnberg massacre is in the back of his mind. But let the record show protesting is not an act of terrorism, okay? But rather a constitutional right. Those kids at SC State exercise their right to peacefully protest. So anyone who looks at those kids as thugs, that says more about them than it does those kids.
Those are probably the same people who called January 6th insurrectionist patriots, but called a bunch of young black men and women at SC State University protesting uh thugs in a woke mob. Oh yes, Pamela Everett called him a woke mob. Let's listen. Well, I was at the White House today. I heard about what's happening on the campus of SC State University. Let's be clear, facts trump feelings in the real world.
President Trump and conservatives have done more for H.B.CU than any administration in history. I must be doing something right because woke mobs are coming after me for being a champion of eliminating radical DEI scams on college campuses. So bring it on. Just like President Trump, I'll never back down or bend a knee to the woke radicals. I'm ending DEI on campuses once and for all.
>> Oh, the Hellmans was heavy in that statement. Wipe the mayonnaise off your fingers. Okay. All she proved to me with that statement is that SC State University made the absolute wrong choice to have her as the commencement speaker with the absolute right choice in removing her. Okay, those young men and women at SCate were 100% correct in their right to protest. Uh they have the right to say who gets to represent their H.B.CU on its biggest stage. Now SC State, if you are looking for a new commencement speaker, look no further than one of your own right there on campus. uh Nikira Nikira Marie I believe that's her name. I watched this clip of her speaking like about four times yesterday. Let's listen.
>> I want to be clear about this. This is not a black and white issue. This isn't a political issue. It's not a Democratic or Republican party issue. It's not about that. It's a morality issue.
>> We're here. We've been here for 45 years commencement. We should have someone who's going to celebrate us. How can someone who goes against everything that we stand for and believe in moralitywise, how can that person uplift me for my day of stepping into the real world?
>> How how can I I don't feel supported. I I is nothing that she can say that will make me feel encouraged to step out into this society, a society where the the the America and the country that I believe in, she don't have that same agenda. And I want to say something, being conservative is not the issue.
That's all right. We all have our own political rights.
>> But she she's explicitly said, "I am a Trump conservative."
>> Okay? If you believe in Trump, you support pedophilia, you support bigotry, you support racism, >> what else? Pro pro police. The same police that's killing our people. The same and also she ALSO SUPPORTS ICE. WE DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT. South Carolina state HAS A HISTORY OF BEING ACTIVE AND BEING proactive and standing up AND BELIEVING IN WHAT'S RIGHT. S State if you're looking for a commencement speaker. There she go. Not Cara Marie dropping the Cleveland moms from the Cara Marie. Okay.
>> Yep.
>> Pamela Ev, if you had no idea why they didn't want you there. She just told you. Okay. Also, you can't refer to your critics as a woke mob and double down on your positions because all you did was further alienate students and you reinforce their concerns. And guess what?
Concerns when managed effectively turn into actionable steps. and the students of SC State respectfully managed their concerns and they told you to get to stepping. Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Lamentisoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to michaelthebull.com. That's michaelthebull.com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
>> I wake up.
Y'all finished or y'all done?
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