Democrat Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was met with boos from students and attendees during Howard University’s 158th commencement ceremony Saturday.
Bowser delivered the keynote address and received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities, addressing thousands of Howard graduates and attendees. While she received some applause, Bowser let out a sheepish smile when the crowd also began to boo at her, with some even chanting “free D.C.” (RELATED: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Says She’s Grateful For Trump’s Assistance With City’s Crime Problem)
Notably, Bowser is not seeking reelection for a fourth term as mayor.
“People have asked me if I’m retiring, resting, or quitting… and the answer is no, no, and hell no,” Bowser said during the speech.
“Just like you, I will be graduating too,” Bowser added. “This is my commencement too. You’ll turn your tassels this morning, and I will walk across the stage in January.”
Students also passed around pamphlets in anticipation of Boswer’s speech, detailing their qualms with the mayor as well as listing various ways to protest her appearance. Howard — a historically black college or university (HBCU) institution — has a student population that identifies anywhere between 70% to 80% as black.
Bowser was criticized for various reasons, including youth curfew zones that led to “an increase in police and feds harassing students,” and for “not standing up to the Trump administration” when the National Guard was ordered to deploy to the city. The pamphlet also alleged that Boswer has accepted money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), traveled on junket trips to Israel, and was accused of “supporting the genocidal Israeli war machine.” (RELATED: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Passes On Run For 4th Term)
“Bottom line, Mayor Bowser does not represent a future we as Howard students want,” the pamphlet reads.
The handout also detailed various ways for students to “resist” Bowser’s speech, which included walking out of the commencement ceremony, heckling during the address, and turning their backs while the mayor spoke.
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