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
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ first visit to a public school got off to a rough start Friday when protesters blocked her from entering – forcing her to make a hasty retreat.
DeVos arrived at the Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington, DC, at 10 a.m. for an event that was closed to the media, the Washington Post reported.
She tried entering through a side door but was blocked by two protesters, one of whom chased after her holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign and tried to block her black limo from driving off, a video clip circulated on Twitter by ABC 7 News WJLA-TV showed.
Several dozen members of the Washington Teachers Union, parents and other activists had gathered in front of the school.
“Go back!” one of the men could be heard shouting.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” a small crowd yelled.
“Keep giving money to the Senate and buying your way into the position,” a protester said.
Another image on Twitter showed she did manage to eventually get into the school through another door.
Union head Elizabeth Davis publicized DeVos’ visit on Twitter Thursday, urging protesters to “say ‘NO’ to privatization of our schools.”
Davis said Friday morning the union was supporting Jefferson teachers.
“We want to share the message that we love our public school system,” Davis told reporters outside Jefferson, the paper reported. “Public education teachers believe that public education is the cornerstone, it’s the foundation of our society.”
Teachers at the school were upset by her visit and planned to wear black to show their feelings, sources told the paper.
DeVos, who has spent decades lobbying for private school vouchers, charter schools and other alternatives to traditional public schools, was one of President Trump’s most controversial Cabinet picks.
The Senate confirmed her Tuesday with a historic tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence.
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