Mike Pence’s appearance at Wisconsin college cancelled amidst Jacob Blake protests
Decision also comes following 270 staff and students renouncement of vice president's visit in open letter
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Your support makes all the difference.Vice President Mike Pence’s appearance at a college in Wisconsin has been cancelled in light of ongoing unrest in the nearby city Kenosha following the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Wisconsin Lutheran College announced in a statement on Thursday that "further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha," has led the private college to "present a different speaker".
The vice president was scheduled to deliver the commencement speech at the ceremony on Saturday.
Kenosha, which is about 40 miles away from the private college, has faced three nights of violence and damage that followed peaceful protests over the shooting of Mr Blake.
On Wednesday it was announced that a white teenager had been arrested after two people were shot to death on the third night of the protests.
Mr Pence will be replaced by Reverend Mark Jeske of St Marcus Lutheran Church, the college announced in the statement.
Pence's press secretary Devin O'Malley confirmed to CNN that the vice president would not be attending.
“Vice President Pence understands and supports Wisconsin Lutheran College's decision to prioritise the safety and well-being of their students, and wishes the students well as they celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from college and as they embark on their next journey,” Mr O'Malley told the outlet.
The decision also follows criticism from students and alumni over the vice president's scheduled appearance, with over 270 members of the college community signing an open letter posted online objecting to the visit prior to the unrest.
The letter argued that the invitation of Mr Pence politicised the ceremony insisting "controversial political figures need to stay out of our academic celebrations."
"The mere invitation of a Vice President of an incredibly divisive and controversial ticket to speak in a swing state months before an election is ignorant and deceptive," the letter accuses.
Mr Pence made reference to the civil unrest in Kenosha during his Republican nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, condemning the violence.
“Let me be clear: the violence must stop – whether in Minneapolis, Portland, or Kenosha,” Mr Pence said.
“Too many heroes have died defending our freedoms to see Americans strike each other down. We will have law and order on the streets of this country for every American of every race and creed and colour.”
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