Protesters taken out of Notre Dame commencement

By Kirk Mason (mason@wsbt.com)

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A protester is escorted out as he heckles President Barack Obama as he delivers the commencement speech during the 2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM EST

Story Updated: May 18, 2009 at 12:03 AM EST

NOTRE DAME — Shortly into President Obama’s commencement speech Sunday afternoon at the University of Notre Dame, at least three people were escorted out of the Joyce Center.

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The first man began shouting “You owe an apology to the Mother of God.”

A second man, from near the back of the Joyce Center, shouted, “Abortion is murder.”

The two men were loudly booed by the crowd as they were being removed by security staff.

Many students stood, chanting, "We are ND!"

Obama acknowledged the interruption.

"We're alright. We're fine everybody [...] We are not going to shy away from things that are uncomfortable sometimes."

A few minutes later a third man was removed from the crowd.

He was shouting “Stop killing our children.”

Obama pointed out the shouting and spectacle is what he thinks is wrong with the abortion debate.

"When we open up our hearts and our minds to those who may not think precisely like we do or believe precisely what we believe — that's when we discover at least the possibility of common ground," Obama said.

Many graduates found ways to peacefully indicate their beliefs. Some had a yellow cross and two small feet drawn on their caps. Others displayed the Obama "O" logo used during the campaign.

"I didn't want to boycott my commencement,” said one pro-life student. “This is my commencement. I should be able to celebrate it, but I wanted to voice my opposition to Obama speaking here."

Another pro-life graduate disagreed with the methods of some protesters.

“People shouting things and creating this big fuss — it kind of ruined my graduation, to be honest with you," she said.

Notre Dame says a total of 38 people were arrested Sunday on university property.

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