‘You are evil incarnate’: Protesters disrupt Mike Pompeo’s speech at Yale University, but former secretary of state said he is ‘glad young people can exercise their First Amendment rights’
- Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, 58, was interrupted during a speech at Yale
- The interruption came when he spoke of an incident in which he was called the “worst Secretary of State in history.”
- Pompeo said the hecklers did a “huge disservice to their colleagues and peers” by yelling at him.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was interrupted by protesters while delivering a speech at Yale University on Thursday night.
The interruption began when Pompeo spoke about an individual who described him as the “worst Secretary of State in history.”
It was the perfect signal for one of the troublemakers to get up from his seat and yell, ‘Yeah, you’re right. You are the worst Secretary of State in history.
After security removed the first troublemaker from the room, they were quickly followed by two more protesters, each sitting around the auditorium.
One rioter yelled that he was from the “deep state,” “destroying this country,” and a “swamp monster,” while another said he was “evil incarnate.”
Some audience members booed and jeered at the hecklers, while others cheered as Pompeo attempted to have a civil conversation with the disruptor.
Mike Pompeo was interrupted during a speech at Yale by three protesters as he recalled an incident in which someone described him as the “worst Secretary of State in history.”
Pompeo was promoting ‘intellectual diversity’ on the Yale campus
The initial interruption came when he described how he had been spoken to in the past.
Pompeo was speaking to promote “intellectual diversity” on the Connecticut campus.
The 58-year-old who served under former President Donald Trump spoke of what he perceived as threats to the American way of life and recalled Trump’s ideology of “America First.”
Pompeo said those who interrupted did a “disservice to their colleagues and peers” by yelling.
“It’s too bad they didn’t come and listen and discuss instead of making noise,” Pompeo said. ‘They just wanted to scream. . . Those are not the best traditions of our country.
Others gathered to hear Pompeo speak pulled out their cellphones to videotape the interruption.
There were only a few security guards available to deal with the interruption.
Security was quickly available to escort protesters out of the auditorium.
Rioters rose to their feet and made their voices heard as they tried to take down Pompeo.
At one point, a troublemaker blamed him for 2020 killing Iranian terrorist leader General Qassem Soleimani in a US military strike.
Soleimani was the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force.
Pompeo quickly justified the assassination: “We saved countless lives by hitting Qassem Soleimani,” he replied.
“I’m glad young people can exercise their First Amendment rights,” Pompeo told Fox News. ‘This could only happen in the United States.’
The three protesters, Kynan Thistlethwaite, Jose Vega and Ben Smith, were removed from the scene.
The Yale Daily News said the three involved were not affiliated with the university and were escorted out “in accordance with the university’s free speech policies.”
“The interruption of Secretary Pompeo’s speech highlights that free speech is in jeopardy across the United States,” said Lauren Noble, who organized Pompeo’s speech. “This is the latest reminder that more needs to be done to ensure college campuses are spaces for open debate and discussion.”
He added: ‘We owe a special debt of gratitude to the Yale police who escorted the protesters out of the event, and to the overwhelming show of support from the audience, who booed and jeered the protesters, and applauded the Secretary’s impartial response. Pompeo. ‘
Pompeo is the second former secretary of state to visit Yale recently; Hillary Clinton spoke about leadership at the Law School last week.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was giving a speech at Yale on Thursday night.
