South Carolina GOP Lawmakers Threaten to Withhold Millions from HBCU Over Commencement Speaker Protest
A bitter dispute between South Carolina's Republican lawmakers and students at the state's only historically Black college and university (HBCU) has taken a dramatic turn. In a move that has sparked outrage among civil rights advocates, GOP lawmakers are now threatening to withhold millions of dollars from South Carolina State University over a protest that led to the cancellation of a commencement speaker.The Commencement Speaker Controversy
The controversy began when Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was invited to speak at SC State's 2026 commencement ceremony. However, students were outraged by the prospect of her speaking, citing past remarks in which she referred to students as a 'woke mob' and said her views do not align with those of the university and its student body. School officials ultimately decided not to have Evette as a commencement speaker due to security concerns.
GOP Lawmakers Respond with Threats
In response to the cancellation, several state Republicans in the General Assembly sent a letter to members of the budget conference committee urging that $5 million not be allotted to SC State. The letter, which was obtained by WIS news station, argues that the university's decision to cancel Evette's speech sets a 'horrible example and precedent' for public schools. According to Rep. Melissa Oremus, the issue is not about whether SC State is an HBCU, but rather about whether a publicly funded university should allow a small group of students to decide which viewpoints are acceptable to hear.
A Pattern of Disrespect
This is not the first time that South Carolina's Republican lawmakers have targeted SC State. In May, Republicans sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister echoing similar concerns about the university's decision-making process. The move has been met with widespread criticism from civil rights advocates, who argue that it is an attempt to punish students for exercising their right to free speech.
The dispute between South Carolina's GOP lawmakers and SC State University highlights a deeper issue of respect for the rights and freedoms of historically Black college and university students. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the future of public education in South Carolina hangs in the balance.
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