Tim Pugmire

MPR.org/90.1 FM

MINNEAPOLIS — As Republicans began their national convention in Cleveland Monday, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was in Minneapolis talking to teachers.

Clinton highlighted her priorities for public education during the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers. But her speech to an overwhelmingly supportive audience also triggered a brief protest.

Clinton received an enthusiastic welcome from members of the teachers’ union that endorsed her presidential candidacy a year ago. The Minneapolis Convention Center crowd then grew quiet when she began reflecting on recent “difficult days” marked by the shooting deaths of police officers and young black men.

When Clinton mentioned Philando Castile, a small group of protesters began chanting “hands up, don’t shoot.” But they were soon drowned out by chants of “Hillary, Hillary.”

“I just had the great honor, the great honor and the great privilege of meeting with his mother and meeting with two of his uncles and his sister. I had heard a lot about Phil, because that is what they call him. And I share the urgency and the commitment to actually address these issues,” she said.

Clinton also addressed the police deaths in Dallas and Baton Rouge, calling them crimes “against us all.” She said such attacks must end.

“It can be true, both that we need law enforcement and that we need to improve law enforcement,” she said.

But with an audience of teachers, Clinton spent most of her time talking about her plans for public schools. She supports universal preschool, community schools that offer social services to needy students, more computer science instruction and greater broadband access. Clinton said she wants to “elevate” the teaching profession with more resources and higher pay.

“When I am president, you will have a partner in the White House, and you will always have a seat at the table.”

Clinton also took aim at presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. She criticized Trump for proposing to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, which she claims would hurt disadvantaged students. Clinton also ripped Trump for making comments on the campaign trail that she believes are setting a bad example for children.

“You wouldn’t tolerate that kind of behavior in your home or in your classroom. How can we stand for it from someone running to be president of the United States?” she said.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said Clinton showed her passion for people and policy in the speech. Weingarten downplayed the protest as a common and expected occurrence for the national convention.

“We have a group of people, who every convention at one point or another, protest at one point or another,” she said. “That’s who we are as a union.”

The AFT was the first national union to endorse Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president. The union represents 1.6 million teachers.

Ryan Fiereck, a teacher in the St. Francis school district, said he’s convinced that Clinton will be good for education as president.

“In Hillary Clinton we have ourselves a long-term leader in the education realm,” he said. “Every opportunity, at least when I’ve looked back and looked over what her track record is, we’ve seen a leader that’s put students first.”

Republicans offered a harsh assessment of Clinton’s approach to education, even before she delivered her speech.