Example: Itty Bitty Crowd Attending Commencement Speech by Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX)
Last Saturday, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott rose to give the commencement address to the Spring, 2015 graduating class at the University of North Texas in Denton, he found himself gazing out across a tiny puddle of graduates edging a vast field of empty chairs, with not a few backs turned on him. The Governor's antipathy to the advancement of civil rights, unbounded love for the "awl bidness" and preference for fracking over democratic self-rule had produced a backlash among the graduates, causing most of them to either boycott or protest the Governor's speech.
According to the Washington Post:
the governor of the state — addressed just a tiny fraction of the graduating class. And part of that small audience was actively protesting him — turning away from him, holding anti-Gov. Greg Abbott signs.
Spokespersons controlled by the Governor's office tried to laugh off the pathetic spectacle of Governor Abbott shouting into an almost empty hall, putting the blame on bad weather and a change of venue. But the
Post also reported that the snub to the Governor was actively promoted and organized on campus by “Turn Your Back on Bigotry” which issued a declaration quoted by the
Post:
“1. The selection of Governor Greg Abbott clarified the necessity for graduating students to participate in selecting their commencement speaker. By inviting a polarizing political figure such as Governor Greg Abbott as the keynote speaker, UNT administration has politicized an event meant to celebrate the accomplishments of a diverse community of students.
2. Governor Abbott supports policies that impede the attainment of rights pursued by marginalized communities, including, but not limited to: the LGBT+ population, women, people of color, and lower/working class people, e.g. Abbott’s attempts to block access to in-state tuition for undocumented migrants is antithetical to this university’s purported commitment to higher education and opportunity.
3. Governor Abbott’s intent to override local control poses a direct threat to Denton’s democratic decision to secure the health and safety of its residents via the November 2014 ban on hydraulic-fracturing.”
Local chafing causing people to act out publicly against rough shod, sell-out, extremist, Republican governance can only be a good thing in a place like Texas. Always remember that there are liberals and progressives and other right thinking people everywhere, in abundance, even in places like Texas. Good things can come from getting them riled up.