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Dozens of students about to graduate from the University of Notre Dame walked out of the commencement ceremony Sunday morning to protest the decision to have the main address delivered by Vice President Pence.
A statement from those who organized the protest said that, as governor of Indiana and vice president of the United States, Pence has "targeted the civil rights protections of members of the LGBT+ community, rejected the Syrian refugee settlement program, supported an unconstitutional ban of religious minorities and fought against sanctuary cities. All of these policies have marginalized our vulnerable sisters and brothers for their religion, skin color and sexual orientation."
The students who walked out did so quietly and did not disrupt Pence's talk. The video below includes the introduction of Pence, and the walkout starts at about 0:50.
The audience at the commencement greeted Pence warmly, and the boos appear directed at those walking out, not the vice president.
Notre Dame typically invites new presidents of the United States to be the commencement speaker during their first year in office. In 2009, many anti-abortion activists (largely outside the university) condemned Notre Dame for inviting President Obama to deliver the address, given his support for abortion rights. But he was warmly received and praised the university for being willing to listen to all views.
Since the election of Donald Trump as president, many on campus had been debating whether he should be invited to speak. In March, without commenting on Trump's suitability as a speaker, the university announced that Pence would appear.
