Greenville NAACP responds to alleged retaliatory actions against SC State from state leaders

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville Branch of the NAACP is responding after state officials allegedly threatened to defund South Carolina State University after the school canceled a planned commencement speech by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

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The organization said that the alleged retaliatory actions against the HBCU do not come as a surprise.

“Honestly, we are unsurprised because, historically, whenever Black institutions assert autonomy, speak truth, or refuse to bow to proverbial political pharaohs, there is always an effort to punish, silence, or strip resources,” said branch president Rev. Emanuel R. Flemming, Sr.

Greenville NAACP leaders said that the alleged attempt to defund SC State is not governance but oppression.

FOX Carolina News asked Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette about lawmakers calling to defund the university after students exercised their right to free speech and whether or not she considers retaliation.

“I think the the broader point in this is that we see this happening with one style of speech,” Evette said. “Conservative views getting canceled all over the country. We’ve seen it happen on multiple college campuses everywhere.”

Stay with FOX Carolina as we work to learn more.

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