CUNY’s law school banned student speakers at future commencements after last year’s anti-Israel rant that called the NYPD and other groups ‘fascist.’
In a now-infamous speech from last year, Yemeni immigrant Fatima Mousa Mohammed claimed laws are ‘white supremacy’ and attacked American institutions.
The speech drew immediate backlash from numerous organizations and elected officials, even as Fatima defended her words and doubled down on her message.
Now, administrations have quietly banned student speakers at the school’s graduation, though they will still give speeches as ‘pre-commencement’ events.
‘It’s a great step in trying to combat hate speech at the law school — that they’re changing the process to make sure that what happened in the last two years won’t happen again,’ NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said.
Fatima Mousa Mohammed took her graduation ceremony to blast the NYPD and the US military as ‘fascists’ and called on her peers to continue to ‘revolution’ against capitalism and racism across the country
During the controversial speech, Dean Sudha Shetty was seen sitting at the stage and clapping for Mohammed.
CUNY aims to make their 2024 ceremony ‘shorter and focused on making all in attendance feel welcome’
‘We appreciate the small steps, but everything they do can’t just be a response to bad press,’ she told the told the New York Post.
The school said in a statement they are ‘committed to ensuring a ‘welcoming’ commencement ceremony’ for 2024.
Adar Rubin, an activist with End Jew Hatred also welcomed the idea that a student speaker would not be permitted.
Rubin wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the decision to ‘bar a student speaker was a small step in the right direction’ but that it didn’t go far enough because ‘allowing students to hold a private pre-commencement event opened the door for student speakers to ‘spew Jew-hatred’.
‘On top of that, Dean Sudha Setty’s statement below categorizing the NY Jewish community’s outrage and pleas to CUNY to recognize their civil rights on campus as “anti-Palestinian harassment” is beyond disgraceful,’ he added.
Some students disagreed with CUNY’s resolution and believe the school is restraining free speech.
‘I get why they want to do it, you know, to eliminate controversy and stuff like that,’ CUNY Law student Michael Piazza said.
‘But, you know, I believe in free speech, so I think whether or not someone disagrees or agrees with what she said, I think she should probably be allowed to say it.’
Mohammed blasted the NYPD and the US military as ‘fascists’ and called on her peers to continue to ‘revolution’ against capitalism and racism across the country.
The future lawyer claimed black and brown prisoners are murdered daily in US jails, and turned on her own university for ‘cooperating with global violence’.
Mohammed started her speech by saying: ‘I chose CUNY School of Law for its articulated mission to be law in the service of human needs.
‘One of very few legal institutions created to recognize that the law is a manifestation of white supremacy that continues to oppress and suppress people in this nation and around the world.’
During the controversial speech, Dean Sudha Shetty was seen sitting at the stage and clapping for Mohammed. However, numerous people spoke out after the address.
The future lawyer claimed black and brown prisoners are murdered daily in US jails, and turned on her own university for ‘cooperating with global violence’.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who was present at the ceremony, later criticized the speech in a tweet.
‘I was proud to offer a different message at this year’s CUNY law commencement ceremony — one that celebrates the progress of our city and country, and one that honors those who fight to keep us safe and protect our freedoms, like my uncle Joe, who died at age 19 in Vietnam while giving his life for our country,’ Adams said.
‘We cannot allow words of negativity and divisiveness to be the only ones our students hear.’
Former United States Representative Lee Zeldin and New York Republican candidate for Governor said: ‘Raging antisemitism has fully consumed the City University of New York.
‘Until the administration is overhauled and all Jewish students and faculty are welcome again, taxpayer funding must be immediately halted.’
‘Zionism is built on racist, settler colonial dispossession and ethnic cleansing,’ she said, as she nearly recited her speech word for word
But massive criticism and hate has not deterred Mohammad from her views.
‘I did not think that CUNY would come out and say that my speech, which was approved by CUNY Law, was ‘hate speech.’ she told Alex Kane, senior reporter for Jewish Currents.
She added ‘even a first-year law student would know that they are using a definition of hate speech that does not meet the legal standard.’
Mohammad then further talked about her anti-Zionist views.
‘Zionism is built on racist, settler colonial dispossession and ethnic cleansing,’ she said, as she nearly recited her speech word for word.
‘For as long as Zionism has existed, it has wreaked violence and pain on the Palestinian people. Our tax dollars are being used to fund this violence.
She argued that her anti-Zionist views are in fact her and her classmates ‘responsibility’ as future lawyers – and it was her way of honoring her fellow graduates.
‘Calling out Zionism was my way of honoring my colleagues’ selection of me as class speaker as well as our school’s mission statement,’ she said.
Regarding her rage-filled comments about the military, Mohammed said that CUNY students have ‘been vocal in resisting racism, protesting the role of the military-industrial complex, protesting the privatization of higher education, and supporting global movements of liberation from South Africa to Puerto Rico to Palestine.’
‘Those calling for CUNY to be defunded are willfully ignorant of what CUNY is and who CUNY serves,’ she said.
During her time as a student in the City, Mohammed was known for being an avid protester and active member of Students for Justice in Palestine.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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