A Republican senator’s scheduled commencement address at a historically black university has been cancelled, amid fears of opposition and threats of protest from students.
More than 800 people signed a petition opposing Texas Southern University‘s invitation to Sen. John Cornyn to speak at Saturday’s graduation in Houston.
“This is our graduation. We have the right to decide if we want to refuse to sit and listen to the words of a politician who chooses to use his political power in ways that continually harm marginalized and oppressed people,” the petition said.
The petition cited Cornyn’s votes to confirm Attorney GeneralJeff Sessions and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as two of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet appointees.
It also raised complaints about Cornyn’s support for voter ID laws and efforts to block funding for “sanctuary cities.”
The decision by officials at Texas Southern University to cancel Cornyn’s invitation came…