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Watch: Protesters Block Betsy DeVos From First Visit to Public School
She eventually managed to get inside Jefferson Academy, as teachers, parents, and other activists gathered to protest her confirmation
Feb 10, 2017
Protesters briefly blocked Betsy DeVos from entering a Washington, D.C. school Friday morning in her first visit as Education Secretary, one woman shouting, "She does not represent anything that [public schools] stand for!"
The crowd followed DeVos as she turned to leave, with another man saying she had bought her way into the position. (Indeed, DeVos made campaign contributions to every senator that voted in her favor.)
"You should be so proud of yourself," he said, before shouting, "Shame! Shame!" as DeVos got into a car.
ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos
She eventually managed to get inside Jefferson Academy, amid a vigil organized by the Washington Teachers Union which saw teachers, parents, and other activists gathered to protest her confirmation--though they stressed they wanted DeVos to succeed in her role.
Representatives said they wanted DeVos to know that the union supports free public schools and equal opportunities for all children.
"When students are under attack, what do we do?" an organizer chanted at the vigil.
"Stand up, fight back!" the crowd answered.
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Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Protesters briefly blocked Betsy DeVos from entering a Washington, D.C. school Friday morning in her first visit as Education Secretary, one woman shouting, "She does not represent anything that [public schools] stand for!"
The crowd followed DeVos as she turned to leave, with another man saying she had bought her way into the position. (Indeed, DeVos made campaign contributions to every senator that voted in her favor.)
"You should be so proud of yourself," he said, before shouting, "Shame! Shame!" as DeVos got into a car.
ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos
She eventually managed to get inside Jefferson Academy, amid a vigil organized by the Washington Teachers Union which saw teachers, parents, and other activists gathered to protest her confirmation--though they stressed they wanted DeVos to succeed in her role.
Representatives said they wanted DeVos to know that the union supports free public schools and equal opportunities for all children.
"When students are under attack, what do we do?" an organizer chanted at the vigil.
"Stand up, fight back!" the crowd answered.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Protesters briefly blocked Betsy DeVos from entering a Washington, D.C. school Friday morning in her first visit as Education Secretary, one woman shouting, "She does not represent anything that [public schools] stand for!"
The crowd followed DeVos as she turned to leave, with another man saying she had bought her way into the position. (Indeed, DeVos made campaign contributions to every senator that voted in her favor.)
"You should be so proud of yourself," he said, before shouting, "Shame! Shame!" as DeVos got into a car.
ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos
She eventually managed to get inside Jefferson Academy, amid a vigil organized by the Washington Teachers Union which saw teachers, parents, and other activists gathered to protest her confirmation--though they stressed they wanted DeVos to succeed in her role.
Representatives said they wanted DeVos to know that the union supports free public schools and equal opportunities for all children.
"When students are under attack, what do we do?" an organizer chanted at the vigil.
"Stand up, fight back!" the crowd answered.
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