Condoleeza Rice Cancels Rutgers Commencement Address Following Protests

Condoleeza Rice Cancels Rutgers Commencement Address After Students Protest

Last week, we reported on a group of Rutgers University students staging a sit-in to protest against former Bush Administration Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice being chosen as the 2014 Commencement speaker because of her involvement with the Iraq War, and it looks like their efforts have not gone unnoticed by a long shot.

In light of the protesting, Condolezza has now backed out of the commencement address. She took to her Facebook page to confirm her withdraw with this message:

“Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families. Rutgers’ invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.

I am honored to have served my country. I have defended America’s belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas. These values are essential to the health of our democracy. But that is not what is at issue here. As a Professor for thirty years at Stanford University and as it’s former Provost and Chief academic officer, I understand and embrace the purpose of the commencement ceremony and I am simply unwilling to detract from it in any way.

Good luck to the graduates and congratulations to the families, friends and loved ones who will gather to honor them.”

Howard University students also protested against hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs being chosen as their 2014 commencement speaker because he dropped out, but he’s made it clear that he has no plans to back out.

Do you think Condoleeza did the right thing?