Protesters block DeVos from entering D.C. middle school

Protesters physically blocked Betsy DeVos from entering a public middle school in D.C. Friday, though the newly-confirmed Education secretary eventually made it into the building.

Video from WJLA shows that protesters forced DeVos away from a back entrance to Jefferson Academy in Southwest D.C., where she was scheduled to meet with teachers and parents, joined by new D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson.


One person in the video was heard yelling “shame!” to DeVos as she was escorted into an SUV by her security detail.

DeVos eventually made it into the school. The president of a local community organization tweeted a photo of DeVos inside a school hallway.

In a statement, DeVos said she was “honored” to speak with administrators, teachers and students at the school about “our shared commitment to strengthening public education” and said she wouldn’t be dissuaded by the protests.

“I respect peaceful protest, and I will not be deterred in executing the vital mission of the Department of Education,” she said. “No school door in America will be blocked from those seeking to help our nation’s school children.”

DeVos’ visit to the school on her third day as Education secretary was closed to reporters. A department spokesperson told POLITICO on Thursday that this decision was made to create “minimum disruption of the school day.”

A group of several dozen parents and former teachers organized by the Washington Teachers Union held what appeared to be a separate demonstration — which they called a “vigil” — in front of the school. They held signs supporting public education. Elizabeth Davis, the union’s president, said that D.C. teachers were concerned that DeVos would seek to use the nation’s capital as an “experiment” for advancing school vouchers and other policies that they believe undermine public schools.

The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, said on Twitter that DeVos should not be discouraged from visiting public schools.

"Just heard a protester blocked & almost knocked Secy @BetsyDeVos down at Jefferson," the union president tweeted. "We don't condone such acts.We want her to go to pub schls"

Former Education Secretary Arne Duncan also weighed in on Twitter, saying, "Agree or disagree w @BetsyDeVos on any issue, but let's all agree she really needs to be in public schools. Please let her in."

