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U.S. NEWS Thursday 11 May 2017

DeVos booed speaking at historically black university

By TERRANCE HARRIS ruary when she described
Associated Press historically black colleges
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. as “real pioneers when it
(AP) — Drawing shouts of comes to school choice.”
“Liar!” and “Just go,” Edu- After a storm of criticism,
cation Secretary Betsy De- she acknowledged that
Vos powered through her these colleges were “born,
commencement address not out of mere choice, but
Wednesday at a histori- out of necessity, in the face
cally black university, even of racism.”
as many of the graduating In her keynote, DeVos
students turned their backs repeatedly praised the
to her in protest. school’s founder, Mary
“Let’s choose to hear one McLeod Bethune, as some-
another out,” DeVos said, one who “refused to ac-
reading her prepared text cept systemic and repul-
in a measured tone despite sive racism,” and had “the
continuing waves of boos, courage to change old
catcalls and scattered ap- ideas.” “I am here to dem-
plause at Bethune-Cook- onstrate in the most direct
man University. way possible that I and
As the crowd kept trying to the administration are fully
shout her down, university committed to your suc- Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delivers a commencement address to graduates at Bethune-
president Edison Jackson cess and to the success of Cookman University, Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
briefly took over the micro- every student across this (AP Photo/John Raoux)
phone to sternly lecture the great country,” she said.
class of 2017. President Donald Trump’s tion. Some leaders of his- Month. public schools to private
“If this behavior continues, nomination of DeVos, a Re- torically black colleges and DeVos has continued since companies and charters.
your degrees will be mailed publican fundraiser with no universities later expressed then to cite historically In her speech, DeVos
to you. Choose which way classroom experience, was dismay when Trump in- black colleges as examples praised Bethune-Cookman
you want to go,” Jackson so controversial that Vice vited them to the Oval Of- of alternative options for for providing the means to
warned. President Mike Pence had fice for a “listening session” quality education, her stat- help its students overcome
DeVos alienated many to cast a tie-breaking vote that became an apparent ed goal for promoting the adversity and serve others.
African-Americans in Feb- for her Senate confirma- photo-op for Black History diversion of tax money from q
Officials no longer sure man killed by police had shot cop

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — There District Attorney John Flynn all. vestigation over the past 48 driver’s-side window as Her-
are “significant questions” said. Acquino’s partner Police officials have said hours, significant questions nandez-Rossy attempted
over whether a man pulled then shot Hernandez-Rossy. the officers pulled over now exist” over whether it’s to drive away. The officer
over for a traffic stop shot The bleeding 26-year-old Hernandez-Rossy’s vehicle true, Flynn said. hung on as the car jumped
a policeman before be- father of three ran away Sunday for a traffic viola- It’s unclear how Acquino’s a sidewalk, went through
ing killed by the officer’s but was found a short dis- tion and that a struggle ear was torn off. Tom Bur- a hedge and hit the side
partner, a prosecutor said tance away and later died ensued when he became ton, an attorney for Buf- of the house, the reports
Wednesday as state au- at hospital. combative. Buffalo police falo’s police union, told said. Messages left with the
thorities took over the in- Police searched the resi- have said Hernandez-Rossy WBKW-TV that Acquino police department in an
vestigation into the deadly dential neighborhood fired once, and the bullet was not hit by friendly fire attempt to confirm those
encounter. where the encounter un- nearly tore off Acquino’s or struck by a bullet from details weren’t returned
Buffalo Officer Joseph Ac- folded, but they haven’t ear. Surgeons reattached it his own weapon. He said Wednesday.
quino told investigators found any weapon, raising Sunday night. no one is sure what caused On Tuesday, the office of
that he thought his ear the possibility that Hernan- Police initially had no rea- the ear injury. Attorney General Eric Sch-
was hit by a bullet during dez-Rossy was unarmed. son to doubt Acquino’s ac- Local media reported that neiderman announced it
a struggle with Jose Her- And authorities now aren’t count, Flynn said. during the traffic stop Ac- had taken over the investi-
nandez-Rossy, Erie County sure Acquino was shot at “After the course of our in- quino leaned through the gation. q