Benjamin has been called a heckler, but she says that isn't accurate.
"First, I want to take objection with the term 'heckler,' " said Benjamin. "I actually had an invitation to get in. And I felt compelled to speak out. I waited until the end of the speech. I didn't hear what many of us thought we were going to hear.
"Well, I don't call it heckling. I call it speaking out, because the president is not implementing policies that we need to see changed."
The National Defense University, where the speech was held, says Benjamin listed herself as press in order to get an invitation.
Benjamin has been a social justice advocate for more than 30 years.