Hundreds Show Up To Protest Betsy DeVos Speech At Harvard

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge Thursday night to voice their displeasure with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

DeVos, who has been a controversial figure since President Donald Trump appointed her, gave the keynote address at the Harvard Institute of Politics-hosted forum, “A Conversation on Empowering Parents." The forum was co-sponsored by the Harvard Program on Education Policy and Governance.

Outside the Kennedy School, hundreds chanted things like, "Hey hey, ho ho, Betsy DeVos has got to go."

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Check out the very loud protesters and at least one tambourine:

Our Harvard Can Do Better organizer Amelia Goldberg spoke to the large crowd, calling out DeVos' decision to roll back Title XI protections and guidance on investigating campus sexual assault.

"DeVos' decision to withdraw key Title IX guidance was such a betrayal," she said outside the Kennedy School. "DeVos claims she's seeking justice but meeting with men's rights activists who have dismissed claims of victims is not justice."

Earlier Thursday, 29 U.S. senators, including Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey sent an open letter to DeVos to urge her to keep current Title IX guidelines on gender equality in education.

The letter and the protests were in response to DeVos’ Sept. 7 announcement that she plans to rescind Title IX guidelines that include the Obama-era "Dear Colleague Letter," which governed how universities handle sexual assault allegations on campus between students. The new guidelines discourage cross-examination of accusers, allowing accusers to appeal findings. It also recommends a 60-day limit on adjudications.

The Obama-era guidelines had required colleges use the lowest standard of proof, “preponderance of the evidence,” in deciding a student's guilt. But DeVos' department said colleges were now free to raise it to a higher standard called “clear and convincing evidence.”

Back to the protest

Inside the forum, several students silently protested DeVos as she gave her speech. Students raised their hands in the air and held signs saying "White Supremacist" and "Students Are Not 4 Sale."

Other speakers at the protest included current Boston mayoral candidate Tito Jackson, Educational Association of Worcester organizer T Zena Link, Boston Teacher's Union member Jessica Tang and victims of sexual assault.

Northeastern student Alexandra Cestone joined the protest just after 5 p.m. with several of her friends, each equipped with a sign. Cestone is a member of the Sexual Abuse Response Coalition at Northeastern and said she came to Cambridge to respond to DeVos' rescinding of the Dear Colleague Letter.

"Among other issues, we're absolutely not satisfied with DeVos and we're here to be a voice for survivors on campus and their rights given the changes she's put forth," she said.

But the Dear Colleague Letter was just one of many reasons people were protesting.

Arlington resident Janice Pagliasotti was front and center along a barricade on JFK Street and said the speakers highlighted the need to protect people that don't have adequate resources and appropriately fund public education.

"I'm here because I think public education is a critical concern right now," she said. "We need to have a strong public school system to keep our democracy."

Boston Public School teacher Raquel Jacobson Peregino was also at the rally and said she was there to support her students and two daughters who were enrolled at Boston Public Schools.

"I'm here as a teacher and a parent," she said. "It's important to keep funding our public schools and we're just here to make our voice heard."

RELATED: Planned Protest At Harvard

Photos and video by Dana Forsythe for Cambridge Patch