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Hecklers interrupted a speech by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Vermont's Norwich University in Northfield Thursday — but she noted that's part of the American process.

“Democracy is great. Sometimes it’s noisy,” Rice quipped, as the protesters were removed from the venue. Their voices were drowned out by applause from Rice's supporters.

Rice went on to say that people elsewhere wish their countries' regimes afforded them the freedom of speech Americans enjoy.

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In her remarks, Rice told the crowd the U.S. should strive to keep the Sunni militant group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) from making territorial gains in Iraq.

"We do not want these people in charge of a swath of land the size of Indiana," Rice, the former National Security Adviser and Secretary of State under George W. Bush, told the crowd, according to The Associated Press.

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SOCIAL

Protesters interrupt Dr. Rice. Dr. Rice waits to begin talk. #norwichresidency14 — Norwich University (@norwichnews) June 19, 2014

Crowds gathering in Norwich U's Shapiro Fieldhouse, awaiting speech from fmr Sec of State Condoleezza Rice pic.twitter.com/0oHlBdWSeW — Vanessa Misciagna (@VanessaWPTZ) June 19, 2014

—Becky Bratu