Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, has weighed in on the cancellation of Pamela Evette as the commencement speaker at South Carolina State University and the subsequent defunding threats that the institution has faced in light of the moves. The organization, which has a chapter on the campus of South Carolina State, issued a statement on social media.
The full statement is below:
“As a result of South Carolina State University students successfully rallying the university to rescind its invitation to South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela as its commencement speaker, a small group of Republicans in the S.C. State legislature have begun a push to defund the university in retaliation.
During her current campaign for governor, Lt. Gov. Evette has espoused anti-DEI policies, defended Trump’s Ai depiction of the Obamas as apes, and is pushing for the elimination of the majority Black 6th Congressional District, which is represented by Congressman Jim Clyburn and includes South Carolina State and Claflin Universities. She also attempted to denigrate the students who lobbied against her invitation, referring to them as a ‘Woke mob’.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. congratulates the students on their advocacy as well as the university for its decision to resend the invitation. We encourage them to continue to stand against political pressure that compromises the values, best interests, and culture of its students.”
After students at South Carolina State University successfully pushed back against the selection of Pamela Evette as commencement speaker, the university later faced criticism and threats of reduced funding from some state political leaders. According to Nick Reynolds of The Post and Courier, the South Carolina Freedom Caucus released a letter urging lawmakers to remove funding for the university in the next state budget.
The controversy followed demonstrations held on campus earlier in the week, when students protested Evette’s planned commencement appearance. WLTX News 19 reported that protests took place Tuesday while an online petition opposing the decision drew tens of thousands of signatures.
Evette later addressed the backlash in a video message shared to her social media accounts later that evening.
“While I was at the White House today, I heard about what’s happening on the campus of SC State University. Let’s be clear: facts trump feelings in the real world. President Trump and conservatives have done more for HBCUs than any administration in history. I must be doing something right because woke mobs are coming after me for being a champion of eliminating radical DEI scams on college campuses. So bring it on.”
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, has weighed in on the cancellation of Pamela Evette as the commencement speaker at South Carolina State University and the subsequent defunding threats that the institution has faced in light of the moves. The organization, which has a chapter on the campus of South Carolina State, issued a statement on social media.
