PROTESTS BREAK OUT DURING HEGSETH’S VISIT TO EUCOM HEADQUARTERS IN GERMANY
Defending American interests throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, the United States European Command (USEUCOM) plays a vital role in national security. It makes perfect sense that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would visit the EUCOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany; however, it wasn’t a warm welcome from everyone. Protests brought about due to Trump’s attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remained hostile to Hegseth ranging from chants to even walkouts at a local middle school.
Pete Hegseth Met With Hostile Protests at EUCOM Headquarters
It’s hard to know exactly what Pete Hegseth was expecting during his visit to the EUCOM headquarters; however, his presence would inspire a memorable response from the community.
Boos, verbal jabs, and hostile chants rang throughout the U.S. military installation, as families met the Defense Secretary to voice their displeasure about the elimination of DEI initiatives.
Chants of “D-E-I” as dozens of residents heckled Hegseth following the banning of books in schools operated by the DoD.
Why Stuttgart is Protesting
Protesting in the U.S. European Command headquarters was inspired by the banning of books and censoring of lesson plans/materials involving psychology and immigration.
Topics connected to the LGBTQ+ community, racial equality, equal rights for women, etc. are all things Trump’s administration continues to fight back against.
As a result, everything from personal books brought in by teachers to library selections to even lesson plans are being reviewed, censored, and when necessary, eliminated to meet the new guidelines.
Despite the criteria of what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable still being vague, the DoD is working to comply with Trump’s executive order causing all of these changes at the federal level.
Students of Patch Middle School Stage Walkout at EUCOM Headquarters
While there were plenty of adults voicing their frustrations with the anti-DEI initiatives, children also joined in the EUCOM headquarters protests.
Middle school students facing the elimination of diversity programs organized a walkout to protest Hegseth visiting Stuttgart.
At Patch Middle School, 55 students held a protest for around 50 minutes after walking out of their classes.
Hegseth's visit to discuss things at U.S. Africa Command and U.S. European Command specifically brought him to the Patch Barracks in Stuttgart.
The protest during these meetings shed light on the loss of things such as Black History Month and the loss of groups that promoted women in STEM, along with those for the LGBTQ+ community—all in addition to the previously mentioned censorship of learning materials.
However, it’s worth noting that the official reason for the protest according to a memo parents received from the school was due to "recent events," rather than explicitly defining them to the cuts due to Trump’s anti-DEI EO.
Students Protest DEI Stateside
Those in the military community stationed in Germany are making their displeasure about the erasure of DEI programs heard, but here in the United States, others are also protesting these new measures.
Missouri State University protests were brought about by students following the school announcement that its DEI programs were going away due to concerns over the state budget.
Outside of the university’s Carrington Hall, around 50 students held a protest that not only sought the reinstatement of DEI programs but called for university president Richard Williams to be removed from his position.
Before ending DEI programs, the university also cut scholarships and hiring practices aimed at promoting diversity.
From the United States to the EUCOM headquarters in Germany, many inside and outside of the military community continue to question Trump’s administration and its anti-DEI policies affecting millions around the globe.
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