Protests at Michael Johns' speech in Rockefeller Hall on Tuesday evening. (Cameron Pollack / Sun Photography Editor)

February 16, 2017

Students Protest Michael Johns Lecture

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Barred from entry, about 15 students gathered outside Rockefeller Hall on Tuesday to protest a private lecture by Tea Party leader and former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush, Michael Johns.

Cornell Political Union announced on Monday that the event — titled “Trumpism Can Make America Great Again” — would be closed to the public after Cornell Police told the union it either had to pay $2,000 in security fees, cancel the event or make it private because of security concerns, according to Troy LeCaire ’17, the group’s president.

Johns is a co-founder and a leader of the Tea Party movement and has notably served as speechwriter for former President George H.W. Bush. His endorsement of President Donald J. Trump and outspoken conservative statements have sparked controversy in the political sphere.

Read The Sun’s coverage:

Following Security Concerns, Cornell Political Union Makes Controversial Event Private

Students Protest Private Lecture, Calling It a ‘Safe Space for White Supremacy’

Valentine’s Dinner With a Tea Party Leader: Michael Johns Defends Trump