Yesterday, left-wing activists blocked Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos from using an entrance into a public school and screamed at her as she and her staff retreated to her van. One of the activists loudly chanted “Shame!” as DeVos got back into her vehicle.
https://youtu.be/GugIsYqqceY
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tweeted: “Just heard a protester blocked & almost knocked Secy @BetsyDeVos down at Jefferson. We don’t condone such acts. We want her to go to pub schls.”
Just heard a protester blocked & almost knocked Secy @BetsyDeVos down at Jefferson.We don't condone such acts.We want her to go to pub schls
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) February 10, 2017
The pushing isn’t seen in the video above.
DeVos did eventually get into the school through a different entrance and was able to meet with teachers’ union officials and school leaders.
we met the Secretary also. pic.twitter.com/2P3BLHAeaW
— Capital Community Partners (@capcmtyprtners) February 10, 2017
Now the D.C. police are investigating the report of a possible assault against the secretary:
The police department tweeted one man had been arrested for assaulting a police officer at the protest at Jefferson Middle School Academy.
“Report that @BetsyDeVos was assaulted is under investigation,” the account tweeted.
A group of protesters attempted to block an advance team going to a second school in Southwest D.C. later on Friday.
DeVos said in a statement that she respected peaceful protest but “I will not be deterred in executing the vital mission of the Department of Education.”
Many on the left, such as the Daily Kos, actually applauded the spectacle of these goons trying to keep a woman from doing her job.
Via Twitchy:
Watch Betsy DeVos get a lesson in resistance as protesters block entrance to a D.C. school https://t.co/4schOufzjx
— Daily Kos (@dailykos) February 10, 2017
According to WJLA, the Washington Teachers’ Union organized a protest but said that union members were not among the people blocking her entry.
They arrived earlier in the day and greeted DeVos in peace, but with a strong message.
The union, who said they did not support DeVos’ nomination, stated they hoped she would be successful. They said if DeVos succeeds in her new role then everyone succeeds – including all public schools and teachers.
Ultimately, the union said they just wanted DeVos to hear their message – they support free public schools and equal education opportunities for all children.
CNN reported that members of BlackLivesMatter DC, the Black Youth Project, and other groups also showed up after the groups sent social media messages urging people to protest at the school.
Arne Duncan, who served as education secretary in the Obama administration, tweeted: “Agree or disagree w @BetsyDeVos on any issue, but let’s all agree she really needs to be in public schools. Please let her in.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, tweeted about the demonstration, saying: “This bears repeating: Protest – peaceful protest – is fine but we do not condone violence towards anyone.”A second tweet from Bowser said, “DC has the fastest growing urban school district in America. We welcome @BetsyDeVos & anyone who wants to learn more about our schools.”
The Democrats’ rallying cry since the election of Donald Trump has been to “Resist!” everything the Trump administration does. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is, in fact, giving away free “Resist Trump” bumper stickers.
So Democrat leaders should not act surprised when their foot soldiers out on the streets engage in “direct actions” against Trump’s cabinet choices as they go about performing their duties.
That, after all, is what “resist” means to DCCC operatives and community organizers.
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