opinion assignment

   On Friday November 18th, Vice President Elect Mike Pence attended the broadway show "Hamilton". After the performance had ended and Pence was on his way out of the theatre, he was address by cast member Brandon Victor Dixon. Dixon was giving a speech following the show, and called out to Pence with the following "Vice-president elect Mike Pence, we welcome you and truly thank you for joining us at Hamilton American Musical. We sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.” Some viewed this statement as an attack on Pence, and an attempt at humiliating the Vice President Elect. 

   Although the statement was delivered in a respectful manner, the timing was completely inappropriate. Pence came to the theater in order to support the show and enjoy the performance, and instead he was singled out of the audience, where he was a guest. President Elect Trump made a statement stating" Our future Vice President was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton. This should not happen! The theater must always be a safe and special place". I agree with Trumps statement, Pence should not have been targeted in the theater in that way.

   Brandon Victor Nixon is entitled to his opinon, his freedom of speech, and his freedom to protest, there is not doubt about that. His statement was harassment in the most respectful form. It is clear that Dixon wanted to get his point across to Pence, which he did. He did not leave an opportunity for Pence to respond to the statement, being that he gave the speech form the stage in front of the whole audience that evening. 

   The statement could have been made to Pence through a different platform, perhaps a private meeting after the show. Although Vice President Elect Pence responded to the controversy by saying he was not offended by this, he very well could be, and it may even be offensive to Pence supporters. Dixon should not have targeted Pence at the theater because it was not the appropriate time or place.