Protest Governor Abbott’s Commencement Speech: Turn Your Back on Bigotry

On April 2, 2015, the University of North Texas announced that Governor Greg Abbott will be giving the keynote speech at our May 2015 commencement ceremony. We would like to encourage those who agree with the platform below, in whole or in part, to participate in a student-led, silent protest against Governor Abbott’s presence on our campus.

We are organizing for graduating students on the field to silently turn their backs on Governor Abbott as he takes the stage at Apogee Stadium and remain with our backs turned for the entirety of his speech. If you are a graduating student and would like to participate in this protest, please email us at AbbottFreeUNT@gmail.com

In addition to this protest we are currently collecting signatures for a petition demanding democratic student representation in all future commencement speaker selections. Find us at UNT’s Library Mall between 10am and 2pm, Monday through Thursday, to sign our petition (*requires your name and EUID).

PLATFORM:
1. The selection of Governor Greg Abbott clarified the necessity for graduating students to participate in selecting their commencement speaker. By inviting a polarizing political figure such as Governor Greg Abbott as the keynote speaker, UNT administration has politicized an event meant to celebrate the accomplishments of a diverse community of students.
2. Governor Abbott supports policies that impede the attainment of rights pursued by marginalized communities, including, but not limited to: the LGBT+ population, women, people of color, and lower/working class people, e.g. Abbott’s attempts to block access to in-state tuition for undocumented migrants is antithetical to this university’s purported commitment to higher education and opportunity.
3. Governor Abbott’s intent to override local control poses a direct threat to Denton’s democratic decision to secure the health and safety of its residents via the November 2014 ban on hydraulic-fracturing.