Wisconsin University Disinvites VP Pence From Delivering Commencement Speech

Michael Cantrell   |  

Aug 27, 2020

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Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee has decided to disinvite Vice President Mike Pence from making a commencement speech, an action which might have been influenced by a letter from both former alumni and current students.

The reason? According to the school, it’s due to the “escalating events” happening in Kenosha, which is located an hour away from the college.

via Daily Wire:

After further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha, the WLC Board of Regents and the College’s Administration have jointly decided to present a different speaker instead of the Vice President of the United States, Michael R. Pence, at the Saturday, August 29, 2020, commencement.

Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley, responding to the announcement, told CNN, “Vice President Pence understands and supports Wisconsin Lutheran College’s decision to prioritize the safety and well-being of their students, and wishes the students well as they celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from college and as they embark on their next journey.”

Instead of Pence, Rev. Mark Jeske of St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee will deliver the address.

Here’s a small sample of the letter from alumni and current students:

We renounce the decision to invite Vice President Pence to speak at the Class of 2020 Commencement on Saturday, August 29, 2020. We are concerned about the college’s blatantly inappropriate decision to invite the vice president to speak for this monumental event for the Class of 2020. Not only is the invitation disrespectful, but also the remarks provided by the college fail to recognize the reality of the decision.

WLC has insisted that this event, “is not in any way meant to be viewed as a political event, as it cannot be, and is not a political statement.” They claim the decision was apolitical. However, the mere invitation of a Vice President of an incredibly divisive and controversial ticket to speak in a swing state months before an election is ignorant and deceptive. Speaking to young adults months before an election is a political move and not one that WLC can decide is apolitical.

Praising Vice President Pence for his advocacy, “for the freedom of religious expression so that ministries like our churches and Wisconsin Lutheran College can flourish within a pluralistic society,” is problematic. This administration has been divisive and degrading. As a governor and now as the vice president, Mike Pence has failed to promote policies that reflect Christian values. The WLC administration should recognize, instead of ignoring, his problematic policies. WLC cannot and should not thrive from putting love on hold. Love must always come first. We invite you to rethink your priorities.

At the end of the day, this is most definitely a political decision. People with political agendas put pressure on this school and shamed them into deciding to disinvite the vice president as a means of capitulating to political correctness.

It’s insane how even our religious institutions are proving to lack a backbone in standing up for truth against the lies of folks who want to destroy the very freedom to worship they hold dear.