About 1,000 protest Bellevue event attended by Betsy DeVos
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was the keynote speaker at a sold-out event in Bellevue Friday night, and the controversial figure drew a swarm of protesters and counter protesters.
About 1,000 protesters showed up in opposition to DeVos, KIRO 7 reports, and included the Equity in Education Coalition and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The Seattle Times reports the Washington State Republican Party was expected to stage a counter-protest during the event.
To prepare for the crowd size, Bellevue Police announced Thursday that the department would shut down both directions of Bellevue Way between Northeast 8th to Northeast 10th Street — the busiest intersection in the city.
If you’re confused about why DeVos’ presence is stirring up so much controversy, here is a primer on the education secretary:
DeVos was confirmed as education secretary by the closest margin, ever.
DeVos was confirmed with a 51-50 margin by the Senate on Feb. 7, the closest nomination vote of any education secretary nominee. Vice President Mike Pence was forced to cast the tie-breaking vote, the first from a vice president in nearly a decade.
She is an advocate of charter schools and school vouchers.
http://mynorthwest.com/782254/protest-betsy-devos-event/
