Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced demonstrations from radicalized students during a visit to her alma mater Wellesley College on Saturday, where she was being honored with a building naming.
Clinton, who graduated from Wellesley in 1969, returned to campus to attend a summit focused on women’s leadership in democracy. However, her presence drew protests from some students who circulated pamphlets condemning Clinton’s foreign policy record.
Protesters lined up outside the event venue with flyers circulating that referred to Clinton as Wellesley’s “most beloved war criminal” and accused her of having “blood on her hands.”
Wellesley administrators acknowledged the demonstrations and did not condemn them.
In a statement, Vice President and Dean of Students Sheilah Shaw Horton said, “I encourage all who participate in activism to follow the demonstration policy and be mindful of our Code of Student Conduct so that you remain safe for yourself, and for our community.”
Protests disrupting Clinton’s appearances at American universities are an increasingly common occurrence. During a speaking event at Columbia University in February, protesters repeatedly interrupted and heckled her, with some labeling her a “war criminal.”
The Wellesley demonstrations come days after Clinton made headlines after she blasted undecided voters dissatisfied with the 2024 presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump during an appearance on The Tonight Show.
When asked by host Jimmy Fallon what she would say to those voters, Clinton responded curtly “Get over yourself. Those are the two choices.”
She went on to contrast Biden, who she described as “old, and effective, and compassionate,” with Trump who she said “has been charged with 91 felonies.”
While the Wellesley protests highlighted lingering tensions over Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State, the incident also underscored rising divides in the Democratic Party over America’s foreign policy priorities.
The Horn editorial team