Protesters blocked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from entering two schools in Washington, D.C., on Friday morning, the latest sign of opposition to President Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominee.
DeVos first tried to enter a a school building when protesters physically blocked the stairwell. DeVos and her staff turned away and were followed by a chanting protester who ripped her for her political donations to Republicans.
The protester chanted “Shame!” at DeVos as she got into her vehicle.
Sec. DeVos physically blocked by protesters from entering DC school—turned away and left. Unclear if she attempted another door. @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/buNgmOJbya— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) February 10, 2017
DeVos reportedly did make it into the building, where she was meeting with teachers union officials.
But after, an advance team going to a second school in southwest D.C. that DeVos was expected to visit was blocked by protesters.
The chanting protesters locked arms and wouldn’t allow a vehicle enter the school parking lot, according to video from a local ABC reporter.
At the time of the protests, the hashtag #ResistDeVos was trending on Twitter in Washington, D.C.
Protesters not allowing Betsy DeVos' advance team near SW DC school where she's expected to visit pic.twitter.com/dC6m2IGbCc— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) February 10, 2017
The efforts to block her, however, were condemned by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. Weingarten is a reliable Democrat and opposed DeVos’ nomination, but argued in a tweet that her group wants DeVos to visit public schools, and didn’t condone the protests.
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
Democrats argued throughout DeVos’ confirmation process that DeVos would not be a champion for public schools. But Arne Duncan, President Obama’s former education secretary, also said on Twitter that it makes no sense for schools to block DeVos.
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.
— Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) February 10, 2017
