Drew Students Plan Protest During John Kelly Speech Wednesday

MADISON, NJ — A contingent of Drew Theological School students plans to protest a speaking engagement Wednesday featuring former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly at Morristown's Mayo Performing Arts Center.

The student group published a website, NoCheapGraceForKelly.com, saying in part, "We believe Kelly's abhorrent actions as Secretary of Homeland Security and White House Chief of Staff rise to the level of crimes against humanity, and our school should not provide a platform for him to whitewash his legacy."

Protest co-organizer Kirsten Trambley said the students' attempts to meet with school administrators about the speech were denied outright until Feb. 4, according to a Facebook post in a public group titled "Drew Theological School." In the interim, however, students have not yet met with administrators, she said.

"Due to the planning of the protest on Wednesday, February 12, we have been unable to schedule a meeting with the administration," Trambley wrote. "Instead, we have used collaborative efforts across Drew University, including the support of the Office of Student Activities."

MorristownGreen reports that the students also petitioned Drew to have Kelly's speech canceled but were unsuccessful.

The students have cited the school's international enrollment in their opposition to the speech. In November 2019, Drew issued a news release announcing it is among the top 10 universities in the nation for international enrollment.

In a recent Facebook post, the protesting students wrote that "in regards to enrollment, this is a contradiction of values." They noted Kelly's involvement with a so-called Muslim ban that prevented travel from seven mostly Muslim countries as well as the Department of Homeland Security's practice of separating migrant families at the country's southern border.

In Drew's release, University President MaryAnn Baenninger stated: "We are proud of Drew’s international community of global citizen students from dozens of countries around the world. Community is an important pillar of our Launch educational experience. So, all our students — international and domestic — learn and use skills that matter in our interconnected world."

On Monday, a Drew spokesperson told MorristownGreen: "The series is a public lecture platform, not an endorsement of any distinct point of view. In accordance with its mission, Drew supports the rights of all voices to be heard, including those of the protesting students."

Kelly is the only political figure featured on Drew's events calendar for the 2019-20 school year. MorristownGreen reports that former headliners have included Joe Biden, Dan Rather, Neil deGrasse Tyson and John Oliver.

Tickets for Kelly's speaking event cost between $50 and $75 and can be purchased online.