(RNN) - Vice President Mike Pence's commencement address to Notre Dame University students was preceded by a walkout.
More than 100 students stood up and quietly left Notre Dame Stadium where the ceremony was being held once Pence was introduced.
The protest had been planned for weeks by a group called We StaND For. The group posted instructions to its Twitter page asking participants to be silent and "keep in your heart those for whom you are walking out."
The protest centered on policies promoted by Pence, a former governor of Indiana, and president Donald Trump. A petition was circulated to stop the university from inviting Trump, as its usual procedure regarding new presidents. Pence accepted an invitation instead.
Mike Pence's policies target the most vulnerable groups in our society. Consider showing solidarity these groups by joining #WalkoutND pic.twitter.com/zkJBPSm3mQ
— We StaND For (@WeStandForND) May 16, 2017
Pence was also protested Saturday during a commencement address at Grove City (PA) College. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was also protested during a commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University.
During Pence's speech to the remaining students at the Catholic university, he promoted Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia earlier in the day denouncing religious persecution.
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