A small group of students and alumni of Bethune-Cookman University gathered outside the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 10 to protest against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who was chosen to speak at the university’s commencement.

The decision to invite DeVos to speak and to receive an honorary degree from the historically black university sparked outrage in light of her comments hailing HBCUs as ‘pioneers of school choice,’ when many argued black students were forced to “choose” between segregated education or none.

Reports said students opposed to DeVos’ invitation to speak gathered thousands of signatures for a petition to have her uninvited.

During the ceremony, DeVos was booed and graduates stood with their backs to her during her speech, according to reporters at the event.