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...Students Petition To Remove Glenn Youngkin As Graduation Speaker

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‘Harmful And Disrespectful’: George Mason Students Petition To Remove Glenn Youngkin As Graduation Speaker

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/harmful-and-disrespectful-george-mason-students-petition-to-remove-glenn-youngkin-as-graduation-speaker/ar-AA196nSU?cvid=ac083a77b0ce41b1a542d624abd7e269&ei=21

Story by Corey Walker

Students at a Virginia public school are rallying to get their governor removed as the commencement speaker for the upcoming graduation, according to reports.

George Mason University announced that Governor Glenn Youngkin will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming graduation ceremonies on Thursday. In a public statement, said they looked forward to Youngkin’s visit to campus and touted Youngkin’s passage of a budget which included $33.4 million in additional aid for George Mason students.

“We look forward to welcoming Governor Youngkin to speak to our graduating students, who we expect will comprise the largest and most diverse class of graduates ever,” George Mason President Gregory Washington said, according to the official university statement. “Governor Youngkin’s drive for lifelong learning and his entrepreneurial mindset is what we cultivate in all of our graduates.”

Alaina Ruffin, a George Mason University senior, released a petition in response to the announcement, urging the university to rescind its invitation to Youngkin.

“Selecting a speaker that has passed anti-trans legislation, promoted the abolishment of racial equity curricula, and restricted the availability of literature in public schools is an intentional target towards historically marginalized communities comprising Mason,” Ruffin wrote, “It is harmful and disrespectful to the many students who continuously shape GMU’s community to bring in an individual who has also neglected the needs of Virginians.”

So far, over 5,300 have signed in support of the message.

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