Hundreds rally outside Dakota State commencement

Yahoo

11-05-2025

MADISON, S.D. (KELO) — Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Dakota State University's graduation ceremony Saturday as U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke to this year's graduating class.
Since DSU announced the former South Dakota governor would be its commencement speaker, the decision has garnered its fair share of praise and criticism.
DSU awards Noem honorary degree
Not long before commencement, you could see plenty of people rallying along Washington Avenue in Madison. The two largest groups were near 2nd and 9th Streets. Rally goers were present during the entire ceremony and some stayed as Secretary Noem boarded a helicopter.
Several people disagreed with Noem receiving an honorary degree.
'I just think it's a little ridiculous that she is being honored,' rally goer Ronan Wicks said.
Others opposed her immigration policies.
'Specifically, the way that she's been handling Trump's immigration policy, the issues that we've been seeing with international student visas and visa revocations, as well as the lack of due process and the Trump administration as a whole,' rallygoer and Dakota State student Anden Wieseler said.
However, not everyone was on board with the rally.
'I supporter her. I think that I disagree with the protest personally,' Matthew Birkeland said.
Birkeland is a student at Dakota State.
'I think everybody's got the right to go protest and do whatever they want. I think it's good everybody getting their voice out, but I think it's a little distracting for the graduates,' Birkeland said.
'People in the community are holding signs that say, 'Congrats, grads, you deserve better.' There have been chants that have said 'Grads deserve better.' 100%, we support the graduates, and we think that this is their day,' Wieseler said.
But whatever the opinion, rally goers voiced the importance of making it known.
'I think protests are one of the backbones of this country. I think making sure our voices are heard was something that the founding fathers wanted from all of us because we all are very opinionated everywhere,' Wicks said.
Along with secret service, law enforcement from the Madison Police Department, the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the South Dakota Highway Patrol were also present at the event.
PHOTOS: Noem's appearance in Madison
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