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The Notre Dame student organization WeStaNDFor led a walkout during Vice President Mike Pence's address during the school's commencement.

Vice President Mike Pence's response Friday to unrest in Minneapolis following the police-involved killing of George Floyd is putting a spotlight on his past actions.

Pence said in a tweet, "Ourprayers are with the family of George Floyd and our prayers are also with the family of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. We have no tolerance for racism in America."

A follow-up tweet continued:

"We believe in law and order in this Country. We condemn violence against property or persons. We will always stand for the right of Americans to peacefully protest and let their voices be heard."

Former Minneapolis police officerDerek Chauvin, who is white,was arrested Friday, days after video circulated of him holding his knee to Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes before Floyd, a black man,died.

The arrest came after Minneapolis residents awoke Friday to smoke billowing, fires burning and police lining their streets after another intense night of protestsfollowing Floyd's death.

But in the past, Pence has turned his back on peaceful protest. In October 2017, the former Indiana governortweeted that he walked out ofLucas Oil Stadiumafter a group of San Francisco 49ers players knelt during the national anthemto protest racial inequality and social injustice.

"I left today's Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem, Pence tweeted minutes after leaving the stadium.

According to documents released by theHuffington Postfrom the Department of Homeland Security a year after the walkout, the estimated cost of Pence'svisitwas about $325,000. The numbers includehotel, travel and additional security measures.

Earlier that same year, he seemed to take another silent protest in stride when roughly 100 University of Notre Dame graduates walked out during Pence's commencement speech.

The vice presidentspent a chunk of his 15-minute address discussing his support for freedom of speech at universities and said, sadly, when free speech and civility are waning on campuses across America, Notre Dame is a campus where deliberation is welcomed, where opposing views are debated, and where every speaker, no matter how unpopular or unfashionable, is afforded the right to air their views in the open for all to hear.

Pence didnt acknowledge the walkout directly,but continued to discuss expression on college campuses..

The increasing intolerance and suppression of the time-honored tradition of free expression on our campuses jeopardizes the liberties of every American, he said. This should not and must not be met with silence.

Contact IndyStar reporter Elizabeth DePompei at 317-444-6196 or edepompei@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @edepompei.

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Mike Pence says he supports peaceful protests. Here's how he's responded to them before. - IndyStar