Shortly after billionaire GOP donor and charter school advocate Betsy DeVos was confirmed as education secretary Tuesday, dozens of students in New York City left their classrooms to protest in Manhattan's Foley Square, Gothamist reports.Students from NYC area high schools, as well as some colleges, braved the afternoon rain and chanted against DeVos and President Trump's controversial immigration ban, which is set to be argued in a federal appeals court Tuesday night."Betsy DeVos was confirmed today despite her shameful inexperience and complete lack of understanding for the very job she seeks," one student could be heard saying in a mic, according to Gothamist. Students also held up signs that said "ban walls, not people" and "refugees are welcome here."Both Republicans and Democrats, as well as public and charter school advocates, have voiced their concerns about DeVos's capability to run the Education Department, with little experience in public and higher education policy matters. She was confirmed by a historic tie-breaking vote Tuesday, after Vice President Mike Pence had to cast his vote to sway the confirmation in her favor.The walk-out was reportedly planned by 17-year-old Hebh Jamal and co-sponsored by the New York Immigration Coalition, Arab American Association of New York, and MPower Change, according to the Facebook event. The event calls on students in the area to "rise up against bigotry, hatred, and prejudice," specifically in regards to the president's immigration ban, which bars all refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering into the country.Check out footage from the protest via act.tv below
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