Benedict College Students Asked To Stay In Dorm During Trump’s Visit

Posted on by Jessica D. Bullock, DI

Students at Benedict College were asked to stay inside of their dormitories while Donald Trump delivered a speech at their school.

What We Know:

  • Benedict College Spokeswoman, Kymm Hunter reportedly told the White House press pool that only seven students attended the speech, and CNN reports that Columbia’s Mayor Stephen Benjamin and the White House chose who else attended.
  • In a statement, Hunter said that asking students to remain inside their dormitories was a part of a safety strategy made between the school and the secret service. Classes were even cancelled for students that day.
  • “The campus was closed and streets surrounding the campus were shut down to all vehicle traffic from 1:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students who were on campus were asked to stay inside, but if anyone needed to go to work or to another building, it was no problem,” Hunter said in the statement.
  • “This should have been an opportunity for at least scores of students to attend this event,” Benjamin said to CNN. Instead, Donald Trump was surrounded by more allies than students.
  • During the speech, extremely loud protests of support and opposition erupted outside of the gate of Benedict College. Protesters against shouted “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” while supporters shouted “Four more years!”
  • Many took to Twitter to express how they felt that Benedict was used, suppressed the students’ voices for some type of gain and how the college hosting Donald Trump did not speak to its’ legacy.

Trump’s full remarks at Benedict College in Columbia, SC can be seen below.

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