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Lehigh University ‘Rescinds and Revokes’ Trump’s Honorary Degree After Inciting Capitol Riots

In the aftermath of last week’s siege of the Capitol building, two educational institutions have announced they are revoking President Donald Trump’s honorary degrees, Business Insider [1] reports.

Lehigh University and Wagner College announced the revocations Friday and the Board of Trustees announced their decision to “rescind and revoke the honorary degree granted to Donald J. Trump in 1988” in a statement on Twitter.

Faculty members have continually urged the university to rescind Trump’s degree, which he was granted after speaking at a commencement ceremony in 1988. Nearly 300 Lehigh faculty members urged the board of trustees to rescind his degree in 2018, arguing that Trump’s statements and actions as president do not align themselves with the school’s values, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. [2] They refused.

Wagner College’s board of trustees also voted Friday to rescind an honorary degree that Trump was granted in 2004, officials noted in a statement [5] Friday.

Wednesday’s unrest boiled over after Trump once again called on his supporters to protest the election results, and the siege has been characterized as an attempted coup. An angry, violent mob attacked the Capitol building, trapping lawmakers inside who were meeting to certify the results of the 2020 election.

Five people died in the melee including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was brutally attacked [6] by protesters. It’s been reported that members of the Proud Boys, designated [7] a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center were also present.

As the riot advanced, many lawmakers sheltered in place. Some managed to evacuate the Capitol building. Fortunately, a quick-thinking Senate aide rescued the boxes containing the electoral votes, thus keeping them from possible damage or destruction. President-elect Biden was certified in the hours after the riot.

Trump, who has continually poured gasoline on this situation and lit the match said [9] there will be an “orderly transition” of power on inauguration but I’ll believe that when I see it.

In the aftermath of the riot, calls have increased to once again impeach Trump, this time for “incitement of an insurrection,” but the GOP is resorting to cowardly tactics to scupper this. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell circulated a memo to his Republican colleagues saying Trump can’t logistically be removed prior to the inauguration.

Fortunately, 22 retired GOP members who aren’t gutless wonders are calling for his impeachment, and have issued a joint statement alleging he has actively orchestrated “an insurrection on a separate but co-equal branch of government,” The Hill [10] reports.

Republicans who continue to support this man as he creates so much damage and continues to foment hate are just as guilty as he is and also need to be removed. The country will not heal while this continues.

It’s good that places of higher education recognize Trump for what he is. Now it’s time for Republicans to man up. Because they haven’t.