Pence was determined to give the address Saturday to the Milwaukee Christian College, less than an hour northeast of Kenosha, which his office announced in a press release Monday. The college cited “escalating events” as the reason another speaker would be presented.
“After further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha, the WLC Board of Regents and the College’s Administration have jointly decided to present another speaker in place of the Vice President of the United States, Michael R. Pence, on Saturday, August 29, 2020, beginning, “the college said in a statement Thursday.
A spokesman for Pence confirmed he would no longer speak.
“Vice President Pence understands and supports the decision of Wisconsin Lutheran College to give priority to the safety and well-being of its students, and wishes the students well if they celebrate the achievement of graduating from university and if they starting next trip, “Pence’s press secretary Devin O’Malley told CNN in a statement.
A local pastor, Pastor Mark Jeske of St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, will deliver the speech instead.
The decision comes amid some vocal opposition from alumni and current students who wrote a letter earlier this week, updated Wednesday night, and denied Pence’s participation and claimed from the college that the event was not political.
Pence addressed Kenosha briefly when he called for law and order in his remarks to the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. He did not address systemic racism or police brutality, nor did he mention Blake’s shooting by a police officer like Kyle Rittenhouse, who is accused of killing two people Tuesday night.
“President Donald Trump and I will always support the right of Americans to peaceful protest, but rioting and looting is not peaceful protest, image disruption is not freedom of speech. Those who do so will be within the full scope of the law. be prosecuted, “Pence said during his speech.
“Last week, Joe Biden did not say a word about the violence and chaos that is overcoming cities across this country. Let me be clear, the violence must stop, whether in Minneapolis, Portland, or Kenosha,” Pence added.
His chief of staff, Marc Short, suggested Thursday that Pence travel to Kenosha.
Asked if the vice president had reached out to Blake’s family during an appearance on MSNBC, Short said there would be “extra reach” but declined to give specifications.
Re-impressed, Short said: “I think there will be talks, but I’m not offering you anything to do with that news today.”
Asked if Pence could travel to Kenosha, Short said, “Maybe, maybe.”
Sam Fossum and DJ Judd contributed.
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